Collis Parker

Service for Collis Roy Parker, 86, of Cleburne will be conducted at 10:00 A.M., Wednesday, March 12, 2014 in Field Street Baptist Church. The Reverend John Glover will officiate. Burial will be in Rosehill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Brian Parker, Chase Parker, Heath Hoekstra, Steve Flood, Ben Flood, Richard Frost, Bob Treadwell and Bill Schroder. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Tuesday, at the funeral home. Collis Roy Parker was born to Earl Fitzhugh Parker and Marjorie Mae Sellman Parker on May 21, 1927 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His grandmother, Harriet Sellman, also lived with the family. Collis had one younger brother, Earl Frank. When Collis was four years old, his father died of a brain tumor, and Collis moved in with his paternal grandparents, Manny and Emma Parker. At 17 years of age, Collis graduated from high school and went to Oklahoma University for a year as a result of strong encouragement from his grandmother. Collis was a Boy Scout, advancing to Eagle Scout in 1945. During the same month, he joined the Navy and celebrated his 18th birthday at boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois. Due to high scores on the Navy Eddy test, Collis was advanced to E-3 and sent to Wright College near Chicago for a year of electronics training. While he was in school, the Atomic Bomb was dropped on Japan. After boot camp, Collis was assigned to USS Commencement Bay CVE 105 where he initially worked on the flight deck. Collis was sent to Radarman School, and his later assignment was in Command Information. His ship participated with Magic Carpet Operations which involved installation of bunks on the flight decks for transport of returning servicemen and their dogs. In 1946, Collis was temporarily assigned to the USS Core CVE 13 and received Honorable Discharge in 1946. After the war, Collis returned to Oklahoma University where he was on the wrestling team and earned a Bachelors Degree in Education. In the summer, Collis worked on oil rigs as a roughneck. He was a 32nd Degree Master Mason, following the tradition of his grandfather and father who were both Masons. Collis met Eunice Elizabeth Frost who he would marry August 8, 1950 in Oklahoma City. The couple honeymooned in Colorado and then moved to Burbank, Oklahoma where Collis taught high school Chemistry. After the school year, Collis worked as an orderly and at the Post Office while completing a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry at Central State University. After Graduation, Collis was commissioned as an Ensign in the US Naval Reserve and hired as a Chemist for the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. The couple moved to Topeka, Kansas where their first two children were born. The family moved to Cleburne in 1954. Two more children were born in Cleburne. Collis had an office at the shops in Cleburne but traveled extensively as a Road Chemist throughout TX, OK, NM, AZ and some parts of CA. As a Road Chemist, he was a problem solver providing his expertise and insight for a vast variety of railroad issues for 36 years before retirement. Collis was a member of Field Street Baptist Church since 1954. He was a Ham Radio operator and served as Cub Den Master in Cleburne when his sons were in scouting. Collis and Eunice round and square danced, and were members of Cleburne Curli Qs and Stroll-N Rounds. Collis was a member of Rotary International and was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship and Service Above Self Awards. Collis served his country as a Naval Officer for more than 30 years and was promoted through the ranks to Commander. His final assignment was as Commanding Officer, Naval Reserve Security Group in Fort Worth. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Earl and his son, Donald Wayne Parker. Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Eunice Elizabeth Frost Parker; daughters, Sue Flood and husband Steve and Rebecca Schroder and husband Bill; son, Brian Parker and wife Denise; and grandchildren, Benjamin Flood and wife Tyler, Chase Collis Parker, Megan Schroder and Rylee Schroder. Visitation Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Funerla Home 512 North Ridgeway Dr. Cleburne, TX 76033 Tuesday, March 11, 2014 6:00-8:00 P.M. Map to Visitation Location Service Field St. Baptist Church 201 N. Field St. Cleburne, TX 76033 Wednesday, March 12, 2014 10:00 A.M. Map to Service Location Interment Rosehill Cemetery FM 4 and FM 3136 Cleburne , TX 76031 Map to Interment Location