Edward T. Parks, III

One of the South’s most capable and fantastic storytellers has told his last story. Edward T. Parks, III, 85, known and loved as Ed passed into the hands of his Lord and Savior on August 27, 2016 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center after several weeks of declining health.
Our loss is Randy’s gain. His beautiful, beloved wife of over 60 years joined Jesus on August 1, 2015 and no doubt has sweetly reminded the Lord and St. Peter on a daily basis she needed Ed with her in order for heaven to be beyond perfect. They are now spectacularly happy to be reunited hand-in-hand for glorious eternity. Randy’s favorite hymn was Unclouded Day and it certainly is now that the most devoted couple possible has reunited. His broken heart is now healed.
Ed Parks was an American Hero built from an Eagle Scout, the kind of man who served his country, served God, served community, served family and built a business from scratch. He graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in business then followed the army draft to Korea where he served in the early 1950s. Days after returning, he married Randy Duncan, who “thought he was the cutest thing I ever saw and I just loved him so much.” She said this, with a big smile and twinkling eyes throughout her life and on her death bed. No man could have been adored more. Not just by Randy but also his children, Edna and Doug, his son-in-law Jim, daughter-in-law Chris, grandchildren Jennifer (Ross), Michael (Tatum) and Miranda and Great Granddaughters Mary Ansleigh and Penland.   Also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Leonard Parks (Nancy) and nephews Lee Parks (Jean), Bill Parks (Julie) and niece Christine Murphy (Mike) and many great nieces and nephews. He was loved as a second father by many.
It was a close family which was overseen by Ed and loved over by Randy. Their children were infused with the same values that Ed had been taught: love your country, love Jesus, love people best you can, be honorable and kind and always help when you see a need. In those ways, Ed and Randy’s legacies carry on with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Of all the non-profits with which Ed had participated, his favorite was probably the ballfield and dugouts that he and another group of First United Methodist church friends help build for under privileged kids in Sparta, Georgia. It was hard, hot work but he always held that mission trip particularly close to this heart.
After returning from Korea, and needing a way to make a living, he bought the Loudermilk Insurance Agency from his aunt.  With the help of two partners, Earl Day and Perrin Reynolds, it became Day, Reynolds and Parks Insurance Agency. Ed’s big personality combined with a mind for a numbers and a heart for service made him a natural for the business as well as earned him respect and appreciation from customers.
Though he was an insurance man for all of his working life, he did, unwisely, buy a cattle and chicken farm one time and quickly learned that farming is much harder than the insurance business. “I ain’t for believin’ how hard that the farming business is,” he used to say. “That turned out to not be a very good idea though the kids did get a pony out of the deal. Not much of a pony, I’ll tell you that right now. Lightning wouldn’t even let Doug ride him.”
He was an avid follower of the Atlanta Braves and Falcons, season ticket holder for the Georgia Bulldogs football and basketball teams (he especially reveled in any win over Florida), a lifelong NASCAR fan, long before it was cool (he hated it whenever one of the Busch brothers won and loved it whenever Richard Petty or Bill Elliott did), a country music admirer (he particularly enjoyed Gene Watson) and once he loved deeply a black orphaned cat named Bear who returned his unabashed devotion but was generally considered the devil in disguise by everyone else. But, above all, he admired, supported and loved remarkably his wife of 61 years, Randy.
Their first date was when Randy was 14 and he took her to a dirt track stock car race. She was wearing a perfectly starched white blouse with a Peter Pan collar. By the time the race ended, Randy, considered by her father and mother to be a delicate flower (she was an only child) was covered from head to toe with red Georgia clay and the blouse was ruined to her mother’s utter dismay and Randy’s sheer delight. “I LOVED it! I thought it was the most exciting thing I had ever seen in my life,” she often said in her precious lilting drawl.
“That’s when I knew I had the girl for me,” Ed said with a wink. “It’s hard to find a girl who loves racing, football and baseball and will get that dirty.” It is fair to say that there were few national anthems that were sung within driving distance that Ed and Randy weren’t in attendance to hear them, standing to attention, each with a hand over heart and the other two hands joined together. They always held hands.
Together they raised two children, Edna and Doug, who were taught to appreciate sports, love the Lord, work hard and be kind and generous to those who crossed their paths. Just like Ed and Randy.
Though he worked hard and made a good living, Ed Parks believed in fun over work. Always. As his life was ebbing to a close, he pulled two dear friends close to him and said firmly with his no-nonsense way “Have fun.” He looked seriously at his two younger friends that he believes works too much and plays too little. He knew well of which he spoke. When having to work got in the way of having fun, and his and Randy’s financial future was assured, he retired and stayed gone as much as possible. Long trips around the world, short weekenders to Randleman, NC to see their dear friends Richard and Lynda Petty, races, weekends at their Highlands house, ballgames, shows and concerts. Ed Parks’ life story is full of memorable people, historic trips, adventures, experiences and unprecedented amounts of fun.
Since Ed was an enthusiastic supporter of the Northeast Georgia History Center, it would be important to him that you know he was a survivor of the devastating 1936 tornado that destroyed Gainesville and that he suffered an injury. He cut his foot on the debris and waited in the overcrowded hospital for over a day before it was finally stitched up. His mother’s stepbrother was the famed poultry pioneer Jesse Jewell and he and Randy were standing with Lynda Petty on the hot July morning in Daytona when Richard Petty took the checkered flag for his 200th victory, to become the winningest driver in NASCAR, with President Ronald Reagan in attendance.
A celebration of the great life of an affable, astounding man will be at 2PM on Tuesday, August 30th from the Chapel of Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel.  The family will be receiving friends and family from 5-7PM on Monday, August 29th. 
Some may think it is “the end” to Ed’s story but because of his faith and belief in Jesus Christ as his savior, his heavenly eternity has just begun. With his angel, Randy, close by his side, it is just the beginning of unimagined glory.  The family would like to thank Ronda Rich for her contribution in preparing this obituary and the wonderful memories of our father, Ed Parks.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in Ed’s name to the Needlepoint Kneelers at Gainesville First United Methodist Church, 2780 Thompson Bridge Rd., Gainesville, GA 30506; Victory Junction, a fun camp which serves seriously ill children, 4500 Adams Way, Randleman, NC 27401 or the Northeast Georgia History Center in honor of the Korean War Veterans, 322 Academy Street, Gainesville, GA 30501. Nothing, though, would honor Ed more than a special gesture of compassion or a word of kindness performed in his memory.
On-line condolences may be made at www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com
            Memorial Park North Riverside Chapel
                                    989 Riverside Drive, Gainesville, GA  30501
                                    770-297-6200
                                    In charge of arrangements