The services will be streamed on our Facebook page , it will start approximately 15 minutes prior to the service.

In mid-January 1940, Verner and Gladys Parker's sixth baby was ready to be born. The birth promised great joy to our family, but Verner and Gladys' blessing didn't come easy. It was an eminently cold winter with much snow. High surrounding drifts made the road to town and hospital impassable. After much effort, Verner managed to get the family Chevy through impossible conditions to Higgins, Texas, and from there by train to Shattuck, Oklahoma, where Gladys was taken to the hospital and Pearl Deryl Parker was born. Deryl shot into this world at Newman Memorial Hospital on January 15th. After giving birth to five daughters (Elaine, Dolphia, Marilyn, Shirley, and Janice), Verner and Gladys finally had a prized son.

From birth, Deryl came out witty, handsome, tough, and had a mischievous sense of humor til the very end. Growing up between working on the family's Riverfront Ranch outside of Arnett, Oklahoma, and Alpine, Texas, where he and his older sisters attended grade school, high school, and college. The family spent summers on Riverfront. Their favorite time of the year. The kids loved to ride horses, help their daddy with cattle, prepare for horse sales, and everyone loved going to rodeos. Deryl was with his daddy constantly, accompanying him on trips, buying livestock, and contributing with everyday chores. Skills that would prove to be invaluable early training for the future rancher. Deryl transferred from Alpine to Shattuck his senior year and graduated from Shattuck High School in 1958. He told wicked stories about the smash-mouth style of football they played in the days before faceguards.

After high school, Deryl went on to graduate from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, in 1962 with a degree in Range Animal Husbandry. During his junior year, he married Anita Gravett, who also graduated from O.S.U. That spring, Deryl and Anita came back to Arnett to assist in running the ranch. Diabetes robbed his daddy, Verner, of eyesight, and Deryl's help was crucial at home. Deryl and Anita lived on Riverfront. Verner and Gladys remained in the Parker home place south of Follet, Texas. Deryl took care of both operations. Anita taught school. Three sons were born to Deryl and Anita: Verner Scott, Charles Judson, and Benjamin Brett. Deryl and Anita enjoyed playing cards together with friends like Sharon and Duane Farris, Mac and Trella Suthers, Buzz and Sparky Bradshaw. Listening to soul country jam sessions at Joe Shelton's mother's house. Deryl and Anita loved to dance. They really "cut a rug" together. Unfortunately, their marriage wasn't meant to last. Deryl and Anita divorced in 1976.

Deryl married Linda Beam Stouffer in 1980. Linda oversaw a transformation of the ranch house into a worldly Spanish-style hacienda. She and her son, Trey, lived at Riverfront until Deryl and Linda divorced in 1987.

In the following decades, Deryl had a long loving relationship with his high school sweetheart, Gwen Peterson. Gwen's reimagining of the ranch house saw the hacienda turn into a living museum. A true work of art. Deryl and Gwen went on many adventures together including wondrous helicopter rides around Hawaii and a magical trip across the Panama Canal.

Over time, Deryl purchased part of the ranch and many improvements followed. The headquarters came alive with the continued remodeling of the house. He built better barns and sturdier corrals. Many trees were planted and he kept the pastures pristine. Like Verner, Deryl's first interest had to be quarter horses, and these beloved mystical creatures took precedence overall. Deryl bred for cutting, reining, roping and ranch work. Parker Horses have won cow horse and cutting futurities across the United States. Deryl raised circuit champions, and had a reserve world champion working cow horse, Smokin Jose N Doc, and other horses competing in AQHA World Shows in nearly every western performance event. Parker Horses have registered more than 1,500 horses in the AQHA stud book and recently celebrated 75 years as members of the American Quarter Horse Association.

The one thing Deryl might have loved as much as horses and ranching was being a pilot. He owned a few airplanes, his favorite, a Cessna 210, he reveled in flying all over the country. Scaring passengers by faking heart-attacks or doing white-knuckle stalls to witness the expression on your face. Crazy Oklahoma winds tested his skill as a pilot, and these thrills he savored mastering.

At the turn of the millennium, Doctor Jene Miller, Reverend of the Methodist Church in Arnett came into Deryl's life and had a huge impact. Gwen willed Deryl back to Sunday School. Jene became a mentor, teacher, confident, trusted ally, and friend, helping Deryl welcome a Spiritual Awakening. Jene stood steadfast and strong by Deryl's side and the rest of the family when his grandson, Jeremy Parker, went through a tragic fatal battle with Leukemia.

Deryl had various and sundry interests. He served two terms as a member on the Ellis County Soil Conservation Board. Deryl was a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge. His daily routine consisted of stopping by the Circle G coffee shop to hear the latest gossip, or as he referred to it, "News." He was a familiar and friendly face in local small town community establishments. A ranch cowboy, who always wanted to say, "Howdy," to his neighbor.

Deryl Parker departed this life on September 5th, 2025, after struggling with Alzheimer's Disease in his waning years, which were spent at home on Riverfront Ranch and at Mesa View Assisted Living in Canadian, Texas. Through that period Deryl never lost his wry sense of humor and kept family, nurses, and guests gut-laughing. He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

Deryl was preceded in death by his parents Verner and Gladys Parker, sister Elaine Wilhelm, sister Marilyn Sullivan, daughter-in-law Janice Parker, grandson Jeremy Parker, and great friend Lester Lackey.

Deryl is survived by sister Dolphia Blocker of Santa Barbara, CA, sister Shirley Robinson of Albuquerque, NM, sister Janice Smith of St. Louis, MO, son Scott and wife Tami Parker of Arnett, OK, granddaughter, Amanda Parker, great-grandchildren Ava and Austin Parker of Edmond, OK, son Chuck Parker of Huntersville, NC, and granddaughter Jessica Ewell and her husband Brandon, great-grandchildren Caleb and Leah Ewell, grandson Charles Parker, and granddaughter Laura Parker all of NC, son Ben Parker and life partner, Catherine Bethurem of Santa Monica, CA, Jeremy's widow Megan Lackey and her children Parker and Lizzy Lackey of Arnett, OK. Deryl is survived by a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins, and a multitude of friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
PO Box 276
Vici, OK 73859