Carl Parks

Memorial Service Wednesday; January 2, 2019 at Restlawn Funeral Home and Memory Garden Chapel, Salem, OregonCARL J. PARKSMARCH 8TH 1929 - DECEMBER 23 2018Carl J. Parks passed from this life on December 23, 2018. He was preceded in death by his Father John Carl Parks Sr., his mother Edna Parks, His sister Ardith, brother Jack and sister Arlene.  He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years Frances Parks, 3 sons, Vern Parks of Salem Oregon, Dale Parks (Cindy) of Eugene Oregon, Cliff Parks (Cheryl) of Peoria Illinois, and 1 daughter Carla Rodzaj (Bob) of Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin and a sister-in-law Jackie McGuire (Gene) of Independence Oregon.  He is also survived by 13 grandchildren, 26 great Grandchildren, 2 great great Grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces. Carl was born in Wymore, Nebraska in 1929 at the beginning of the great depression.  Caught up in the “dust bowl” his family moved from Wymore to Canada and back to Nebraska again in search of a workable farm. Finally they loaded up the car and headed for Oregon. Carl’s father eventually landed a job as a supervisor on a farm in Turner, Oregon where the family lived first in a tent and then a tiny log cabin. Eventually, Carl Sr. began working for the railroad and the family settled permanently in Salem, Oregon. In his early 20’s at Oregon Tech, Carl met the love of his life, Frances Nixon. They would marry on Halloween day 1954.  Carl and Frances moved into their first home on Peck Avenue in Salem.  While there, Carl went to work in the canaries to support a growing family. Vern was born in 1955 and Dale came along in 1957 and by the time Cliff and Carla came along in 1960 and 61 the family had moved to a larger home on Wiltsey St. and Carl was working for Pacific Northwest Bell as an electrician in their operations center.  Carl came to know Christ in 1981 and since that time he was a faithful member and later elder in the Salem congregation of the Worldwide Church of God. Carl was devoted to his family, his church, and his friends. Those who knew him, knew they could count on him when times were good and times were bad. His kids have fond memories of long vacations travelling in the back of the station wagon to campgrounds and tourists sites all over the western United States.  There were treasure hunts in Rogue River, Bears in Yosemite and hours of swimming at Yellow Bottom with his brother Jack and his family.  As the family grew, Carl and Frances’s home was always a place of refuge and safety where kids and grandkids could regroup, and gather themselves before launching out into the world once again. It was a place where you could come and draw, play music, work with wood or just sit and talk. Carl’s workshop was not only a place where furniture was built but also a place of creativity and peace. His grandkids will always have fond memories of Carl working in his wood workshop while Francis painted.  In his later years Carl and Frances moved to Avamere Court where a new community of friends and loved ones were formed.  The family wishes to offer their special thanks to the staff of Avamere and to those that walked with Dad during his last years. We would also like to extend our thanks and gratitude to all who loved dad and continue to support our family during this time of transition. Our father has now begun the next leg of his journey. He is at rest in the presence of our Lord and savior. We as his family look forward to the time when we will see him again in the Kingdom of God.