Bernard Thomas Parker was born October 2, 1905 at Dumont, Texas. He spent most of his younger years on the Johnny Parker ranch just off the caprock northeast of McAdoo. In 1916 he moved with his parents to McAdoo. In 1932 he met Eula Defoor at the home of Andy and Kate Walker. Eula was the daughter of James and Etta Defoor. She was born in Cleburne, Texas on February 14, 1915. The family later moved to Paducah. Eula came west to visit her sister Mrs. Jewell Whatley who was ill. The Whatleys and Eula went to visit the Walkers and that is where Bernard met his future wife. They were married July 29, 1934. They have one son, Wayne J. Parker, born September 23, 1938. That same year they bought the Bud Wooten farm.
Wayne started to school in McAdoo but the family rented out the farm and moved to Crosbyton in 1945. Bernard worked for the Cicero Smith Lumber Company for two years. In 1947 he was employed by the city of Crosbyton. He retired from the city in 1975 holding the position of Superintendent. He was a Mason, member of Crosbyton Historical Commission, member of the Methodist Church, and Order of the Eastern Star. Bernard died March 2, 1978. Eula still lives in Crosbyton.
Their son Wayne attended Crosbyton High School and West Texas State University. He married Alice Beck of Ralls, Texas on August 22, 1958. They have three children. Becky Parker married Jim Tidwell. She and Jim have four sons and live at Hereford. Scarlet Parker married Monte Covington. They have two sons and live south of Ralls. J. Rhett Parker goes to Ralls Junior High School. Wayne lives with his family on the family farm and ranch south of Ralls.
"Top of the Cap" by Mildred Jackson Cornelius © 1985; Catclaw Printing
Parker, Bernard Thomas 10/2/1905 3/2/1978
Born: Dumont,Tx.
Father: John T. Parker
Mother: Lela Elmina Franks
Religion: Protestant
Source: Adams Funeral Home
Transcribed by Bettye Odom
Parker, Eula Emma 2/14/1915 3/15/88
Born: Cleburne,Tx.
Father: James Madison Defoor
Mother: Etta Martha Belle Driskell
Source: Adams Funeral Home
Transcribed by Bettye OdomBernard Thomas Parker, a man who sat on the knee of fabled Indian chief Quanah Parker as a child and who saw West Texas develop from virgin grassland to a prime agricultural region, was claimed by death about 1 a.m. last Thursday. He died in Crosbyton Clinic Hospital after suffering an illness of several months.
Mr. Parker, 72, was employed by City of Crosbyton for 30 years in the electrical department and served as plant superintendent until his retirement two years ago.
Memorial services were conducted at 11 a.m. Friday in Fist United Methodist Church with the Rev. Johnnie Williams, pastor, and the Rev. Floyd Haddock, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ralls, officiating.
Interment was made in Crosbyton Cemetery with Masonic rites. Adams Funeral Home directed arrangements.
Benard Parker, a brother and a sister - offspring of a pioneer couple, the "Uncle Johnny" Parkers - were reared in a half dugout just off the caprock between McAdoo and Roaring Springs. while traveling as a child from their ranch home to Dougherty for supplies about once a month, Parker remembered traveling through tall, native grass "belly deep to a horse waving in the wind like wheat" and seeing an abundance of antelope although the buffalo were gone from the plains. He recalled that playa lakes were filled with water "a deep blue in color and fit for drinking."
In 1908, 1909 and 1910 - when Benard was five to seven years of age - Chief Quanah Parker, his favorite wife and select members of the tribe traveled from Oklahoma to hunt antelope on the Uncle Johnny Parker ranch. While camped at the ranch, Quanah Parker frequently held young Bernard (a third cousin) on his lap. The chief once patted the child on the top of his head and prophesied "some day you be heap big chief."
Bernad Parker´s grandfather, John Parker, fought in the Civil War and later was a Texas Ranger. He and Quanah Parker were first cousins.
Born Oct, 2, 1905 in Dickens County, Mr. Parker moved with his family to the McAdoo Community in 1910. He and the former Eula Defoor were married July 21, 1934 in Paducah.
After their marriage, the couple resided at McAdoo where he farmed and served as a trustee on the McAdoo school district board of education. They moved to Crosbyton in 1945 and he became employed by the electrical department of City of Crosbyton.
Mr. Parker was an active member of First United Methodist Church, where he was a trustee. He also held membership in Crosbyton Masonic Lodge #1020 AF&AM, Lubbock Commander #60 K.T. and was a charter member of the Order of Eastern Star #891. He was past patron (twice) of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include his wife, Eula; one son, Wayne J. Parker of Ralls; a brother, Lee Parker of Jayton; one sister, Mrs. Mary Peak of Crosbyton; three grandchildren and one great grandchild.
©Crosbyton Review, March 9, 1978
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
RALLS(Special) Services for Eula Emma Parker, 73, of Ralls will be at 2 p.m. today in Crosbyton´s First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Ramsey, pastor, officiating.
Burial will be in Crosbyton Cemetery under direction of Adams Funeral Home of Crosbyton.
She died at 9:40 a.m. Tuesday in Lubbock´s St. Mary´s Hospital after an illness.
She was born in Cleburne and had lived in Crosby County most of her life. She married Bernard Thomas Parker on July 21, 1934, in Paducah. He died March 2, 1978. She was a housewife, a past matron of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 891, a member of Crosbyton First United Methodist Church.
Survivors include a son, Wayne J. of Ralls; a brother, Adrian Defoor of Paducah; two sisters, Jewel Whatley of Bowie and Lometa Gibbs of Fort Worth; three grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
©Lubbock Avalanche Journal, March 17, 1988
Record provided by Crosby County Pioneer Memorial Museum
transcribed by Linda Fox Hughes
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