Billy James "Jim" Parker

Billy James “Jim” Parker, born February 1, 1935 at home in LeFlore, Oklahoma, passed away May 22, 2017 asleep at home in his chair. Memorial Service: 10:00 A.M. Friday at White’s Azle Chapel. Visitation: 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at White’s Azle Funeral Home. Jim was a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, teacher and friend to countless precious souls. He was born to a military family and lived in many places including Harve de Grace, MD. Upon graduation he joined the United States Army where he proudly served his country for four years. After the Army he attended Southeastern State College in Durant, Okla., where he gained his bachelors and masters degree in education. While spending his summers working in the Colorado logging woods. After earning his degrees he moved to Hobbs, NM where he began shaping young minds and met the love of his lifetime. He married Barbara Highleyman on April 19, 1963 and in 1968 they moved to Fort Worth/Azle and he taught at Wayside Middle School and later Springtown ISD, where he remained until he retired in 1990, after touching countless lives. He was active through the years in Aztex Saddle Club and Mounted Drill Team, Azle little League, Springtown Rodeo Team, Stewart Street Café Social Club and he could be found many Friday nights at Azle Laundramat playing music and telling stories or on the lake fishing with friends. In his retirement years he was active in several family bluegrass bands (Whitehouse Harmony and Duffin Family Band) where he played standup bass. He was a devoted man to all he knew, and loved by all. After countless precious years he succumbed to his heart condition at approximately 3 pm May 22, 2017. He will be missed by all. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Lewis Parker and Ruby Kathlyn Parker; brother, Louis Parker; foster mother, Mila Louise Moore; and best friend and fishing buddy, Herman Parr. Survivors: Wife, Barbara Parker; sister, Virginia Resta; daughter, Brenda Parker; adopted daughters, Stefani Barten, Heike Wilcken, Patsy Williams, D’Ann Aydelotte and Marva Harris-Watson; son-in-law, Bobby Vasquez; grandchildren, Tyler Parker and Kalle Vasquez; partner in crime, Ben Stilley and countless other close family friends. White's Azle Funeral Home 105 Denver Trail Azle, TX 76020 817-444-3211