Obituary of James Parker

Jim Parker was born on November 18, 1949 in Pasadena, Texas. He was the only child of Howard, a refinery worker, and Evelyn, a dedicated homemaker. Jimmy grew up playing sports with his many cousins and friends in the neighborhood. He had a passion for basketball and played the game year-round. A star at Pasadena High, Jim was offered full scholarships from Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, and numerous other colleges. Jim chose TCU, where he was a three year letterman and member of the 1971 Southwest Conference Championship team. Jim earned a BBA degree from TCU, graduating in 1972. While in college, Jimmy met the love of his life, Carol Shorkey, from Beaumont. The two were married in 1973 and celebrated 48 wonderful years together. Jim and Carol raised two daughters, Kelley (Mrs. Gordon Roberts) and Jacqueline (Mrs. Michael Dearden). Carol, Kelley, and Jacqueline were Jim’s most cherished blessings. A stockbroker, Jim founded the Fort Worth brokerage firm Greenman Parker Connally Greenman in 1985, and had the privilege of serving hundreds of highly successful clients for over 34 years. Jim loved working with his customers, many of which became his best friends. Jim was known for his honesty and integrity and for his compassion for others. Jim enjoyed coaching his daughters in basketball and loved attending their games when both became star high school players. In 1998, Jim and Kelley co-founded the TCU Delta Dunkfest—an annual fundraising event sponsored by Delta Delta Delta Sorority which benefits an area camp serving campers who have blood disorders & cancer. Delta Dunkfest is now in its 24th year. Jim’s experience coaching his daughters in youth basketball blossomed into a volunteer career as a select AAU coach. Jim coached Jacqueline and other area girls on the Fort Worth Hustlers for seven winning seasons, and later organized the Fort Worth Frogs. The Frogs’ run was quite impressive. Coach Parker started the team with fourth and fifth grade girls from the DFW area and nurtured the group for eight years. The team won six national tournament championships including the 2005 AAU National Tournament Championship in Dayton, Ohio, and were even honored with a Fort Worth Frogs Day by the Fort Worth City Council. The Frogs excelled across the nation, and ultimately ten girls earned NCAA Division I college basketball scholarships —not bad for a family team. Two of Jim’s players became superstars in the WNBA. Jim was an accomplished pianist, having taught himself by ear, and an avid golfer. He played regularly for many years, highlighted by a hole-in-one on #13 at Colonial and #16 at Waterchase. He especially cherished his membership and friends at Colonial Country Club. Jim also loved running. Between 1988 and 1995, he completed eleven marathons and numerous other distance races around the country. Jim loved jogging at the TCU Campus Rec Center and was a big supporter of TCU athletics. Carol and Jim were lifelong season ticket holders for football, men’s basketball, and women’s basketball games, and Jim was a regular on the TCU campus.In 1985 Jim participated in a local Bible study and accepted Christ as his personal savior. Jim is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters and sons-in law, Kelley & Gordon Roberts and Jacqueline & Michael Dearden; grandchildren Houston & Parker Roberts and Melissa & Walker Dearden; and countless friends and loved ones.Honorary pallbearers will be Gordon Roberts, Michael Dearden, Bill Barnes, Herb Butrum, Bill Connally, Mark Daniel, Buddy Dryden, Joe Monteleone, Alec Pittman, Pat Rogers, Larry Tidwell, and Ron Willingham.