St. Clair County Obits

JAMES E. PARKER

St. Clair County Courier
6 April 2007
James E. Parker, son of the late Charles R. and Lou Anna Parker, was born on Aug. 6, 1920, and died March 21, 2007, at the Lincoln Community Nursing Home after a lengthy illness at the age of 86 years, eight months and 14 days.
Bud, as he was known by his family and friends, grew up in the Quincy area. In 1943, he joined the U.S. Army, serving in Alaska and the European Theater, receiving five bronze stars and a good conduct award. After his discharge in 1945, he operated a grocery store in Quincy.
Bud married Ardith Scott and to this union one daughter, Ardith Ann, was born. Bud was engaged in farming encompassing Hickory, Benton and St. Clair counties.
In June of 1971, he married Myrtle Turpen. They moved their farming operation to North Missouri. Later after selling their farm they moved to Cannon City, Colo. for a short time before returning to Benton County. Bud and Myrtle spent many enjoyable evenings visiting family and friends and especially enjoyed the card games with his five brothers.
Bud was a member of the Hopewell Baptist Church and an affiliated member of the Shiloh Methodist Church near Warsaw.
Bud was preceded in death by his two sisters, Nora Leiber and Nellie Quaintance; four brothers, Ross, Alton, Harry and Floyd and one brother-in-law, Ray Turpen.
Surviving are his wife, Myrtle, of the home; a daughter, Ardith Elkins and her friend, Jim, of Quincy; two stepsons, John Sweeney and his wife, Iva and Larry Sweeney; a stepdaughter, Kathy First and her husband, David, all of Warsaw; a brother, Claude F. and his wife, Patti Parker, Independence; one brother-in-law, Verle Turpen and his wife, Helen, Warsaw; a sister, Frances Tuck and her husband, Charles, Springfield; two sisters-in-law, Alice Park, Phoenix, Ariz. and Margaret Parker, Warsaw; seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Memorial services for Bud were Sunday, March 31, at Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw, with Reverend Gary Myer officiating.
Honorary pallbearers were John M. Sweeny, Steven R. Sweeny Sr., J.D. Elkins, David Wheatly, Kevin Cochran, Dusty Rose and Steven Sweeny Jr.
Interment was in the Mt. Zion Cemetery, Quincy with military honors given. Arrangements under the direction of Reser Funeral Home, Warsaw.