John Parker

John Preston Parker was born October 13, 1965 at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital, Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. John was one of two children, but the only son born to the union of Charles Preston and Sue Lee (Chalfant) Parker. John went home to be with his Lord December 11, 2009, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Springfield, Missouri, at the age of 44 years, 1 month and 28 days. John attended Richland schools from kindergarten through high school. He graduated with the Class of 1984. He continued his education at Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville. When John was seven years old, he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at Eureka Baptist Church. In 1994, he was called to the ministry. He returned to Richland in 1995 to serve as the youth pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Church with his dear friend, Chuck Baker. In 1999, he accepted the Senior Pastor position at First Baptist Church in Dixon, serving in that capacity until 2005. He worked at Lowe’s Chevrolet for about a year before he and his friend, Rick Wilson opened Carstar Motors in St. Robert. On June 4, 1994, John married Sherry Dawn Lane. This union was blessed with two wonderful sons: Joshua Caleb and Seth Preston Parker. John loved riding his Harley, listening to music and playing golf. But his heart’s passion was his Lord and his family. John was very dearly loved and will be sadly missed by two sons: Joshua and Seth Parker and their mother, Sherry all of Dixon; John’s mother: Sue Parker, and sister: Lynn Smith, and her husband, Glenn, all of Springfield; two nieces: Niki and Courtney; a great niece: Audrey; aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives and friends, including special friend: Nancy Vallone. John was preceded in death by his father, Charles Preston Parker. Services were held at 4:00 P.M., Monday, December 14, 2009, in the Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Richland with Pastor’s Chuck Baker and Rocky Carroll officiating. Guitarist / Soloist Rocky Carroll sang “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone).” Services were under the direction of Memorial Chapels and Crematory of Richland. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of John Preston Parker and may be left at the funeral home.

John Parker

October 13, 1965 - December 11, 2009