Henry
Henry Parks
d. April 6, 2012
Obituary for Henry E. Parks
Henry Elbert Parks passed away at his home in Bayfield on Friday, April 6, 2012, of natural causes at the age of 89.
Henry was born April 27, 1922, to Calvin and Pearl Parks, north of Bayfield. At the age of 19, Henry joined the Army, assigned to the 83rd Division of Ohio. During World War II he fought on Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge. Henry suffered from frost bite on his feet and legs and was hospitalized for 21 days before traveling home from Ireland on the Queen Mary with 10,000 other soldiers.
Upon returning from the War, Henry set to work on the family ranch in the Pine River Valley where his grandparents homesteaded. In 1949, he married his soul mate and lifetime partner, Marybell Neil. Henry and Marybell lived in LaPlata County all 62 years of their marriage, blessed with 7 children; 4 girls and 3 boys.
Henry ranched in between working different jobs all of his life. He worked for the Vanadium Corporation of America in Durango during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Before returning to Bayfield to take care of his cousin’s ranch, Henry went to work for Dr. Hugh Williamson in 1963 as ranch foreman for 2 years. In 1967 Henry went to work for LaPlata County Road and Bridge, operating heavy equipment. Retiring in 1985, he went to work full time taking care of the family ranch in Gem Village.
Henry was a gifted horseman and cherished his horses and mules. He enjoyed going on pack trips to Emerald Lakes, where he enjoyed fly fishing and gold prospecting. Henry was a long time member of the Colorado Mounted Rangers.
Henry never met a stranger. Everyone he met was soon treated to one of his many life stories. He was loved by many and was a hero to everyone that knew him, especially his family.
Henry was preceded in death by his brother Ernie and sister Lila May Wagner; daughters Vickey Ford and Twila Parks. Henry is survived by his wife Marybell of Bayfield; daughters Connie Valencia of Ignacio and Beverly Clennin of Delta; and sons Cliff Parks of Ignacio, Keith Parks of Farmington NM, and Lynn Parks of Durango; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Pine Valley Four Square Church at 1328 County Road 501 in Bayfield, Colo., on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 10 a.m.
Henry was born April 27, 1922, to Calvin and Pearl Parks, north of Bayfield. At the age of 19, Henry joined the Army, assigned to the 83rd Division of Ohio. During World War II he fought on Omaha Beach and in the Battle of the Bulge. Henry suffered from frost bite on his feet and legs and was hospitalized for 21 days before traveling home from Ireland on the Queen Mary with 10,000 other soldiers.
Upon returning from the War, Henry set to work on the family ranch in the Pine River Valley where his grandparents homesteaded. In 1949, he married his soul mate and lifetime partner, Marybell Neil. Henry and Marybell lived in LaPlata County all 62 years of their marriage, blessed with 7 children; 4 girls and 3 boys.
Henry ranched in between working different jobs all of his life. He worked for the Vanadium Corporation of America in Durango during the late 1950’s and early 1960’s. Before returning to Bayfield to take care of his cousin’s ranch, Henry went to work for Dr. Hugh Williamson in 1963 as ranch foreman for 2 years. In 1967 Henry went to work for LaPlata County Road and Bridge, operating heavy equipment. Retiring in 1985, he went to work full time taking care of the family ranch in Gem Village.
Henry was a gifted horseman and cherished his horses and mules. He enjoyed going on pack trips to Emerald Lakes, where he enjoyed fly fishing and gold prospecting. Henry was a long time member of the Colorado Mounted Rangers.
Henry never met a stranger. Everyone he met was soon treated to one of his many life stories. He was loved by many and was a hero to everyone that knew him, especially his family.
Henry was preceded in death by his brother Ernie and sister Lila May Wagner; daughters Vickey Ford and Twila Parks. Henry is survived by his wife Marybell of Bayfield; daughters Connie Valencia of Ignacio and Beverly Clennin of Delta; and sons Cliff Parks of Ignacio, Keith Parks of Farmington NM, and Lynn Parks of Durango; 18 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Pine Valley Four Square Church at 1328 County Road 501 in Bayfield, Colo., on Thursday, April 12, 2012, at 10 a.m.
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