ObituariesOctober 15, 1996
Leland J. Parker, 70, of Tishomingo, Okla., died Monday, Oct. 14, 1996, in a hospital in Ardmore, Okla., following a brief illness. He was born Dec. 11, 1925, in Dallas, Texas, son of Leland R. and Lillian Standifer Parker. He first married Bonnie Thomas, who died in August 1988. He and Mary Jo Ellis were married April 28, 1990, in Tishomingo...

Leland J. Parker, 70, of Tishomingo, Okla., died Monday, Oct. 14, 1996, in a hospital in Ardmore, Okla., following a brief illness.

He was born Dec. 11, 1925, in Dallas, Texas, son of Leland R. and Lillian Standifer Parker. He first married Bonnie Thomas, who died in August 1988. He and Mary Jo Ellis were married April 28, 1990, in Tishomingo.

Parker was an air traffic controller 42 years in the U.S. Air Force, and was a veteran of World War II, Korean and Vietnam Wars.

He was a past lieutenant governor of Kiwanis, former Lions Club officer, served as president of the Housing Authority, secretary of Friends of the Library, driver for DHS, volunteer for RSVP, and volunteer for the Chickasaw Festival.

Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!

Parker was an elder in the Church of Christ. He served with the Johnston County Chamber of Commerce and was named Citizen of the Year. He also worked with the Tishomingo Flying Tigers and the City Council Planning and Rezoning Boards.

Survivors include his wife; four daughters, Wanda Pruitt of Cape Girardeau, Judy Young of Tishomingo, Kathian Tate and Daneice Foster of Lawton, Okla.; a son, Lee Parker Jr. of Lawton; a stepson, Van Shelton of Tishomingo; two stepdaughters, Jan Bivins of Tishomingo, Pam Fredman of Newcastle, Okla.; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Westside Church of Christ in Tishomingo, with Jim Antwine and Paul Thomas officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. in Cache Cemetery in Cache, Okla.

Smith Funeral Home in Tishomingo is in charge of arrangements.

Story Tags

Connect with the Southeast Missourian Newsroom:

For corrections to this story or other insights for the editor, click here. To submit a letter to the editor, click here. To learn about the Southeast Missourian’s AI Policy, click here.

Advertisement
Receive Daily Headlines FREESign up today!