Obituary: C. Gerald Parker

C. Gerald Parker 1931 ~ 2006 SALT LAKE CITY - Clayton Gerald Parker died Saturday, December 2, 2006 at home surrounded by his family, at the age of 75. He was born June 26, 1931 to Aaron Clayton and Irene Gibbs Parker in San Francisco, California. He grew up in Draper, Utah. As a young man he became a journeyman plasterer. He graduated from Jordan High School in 1949. He served an LDS mission to the Eastern States where he grew to love the German communities of Upstate New York and their authentic sauerkraut - a love he passed on to his children. We would print the recipe here if we thought you would actually try it. Gerald married Helen Thaxton on November 27, 1953 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. They have been devoted companions for 53 years. Following their marriage, he served as a high-speed radio operator in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Gerald earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Utah. He practiced law in northern Utah for 45 years and represented his clients with thorough devotion. His practice centered on domestic law. When asked if he'd won a divorce case, his reply was always, "No one wins in a divorce." He served as President of the Weber County Bar, as a Justice of the Peace for South Ogden, and on the Boards of Directors for the Children's Aid Society and LDS Social Services. He served with equal faithfulness and enthusiasm in every assignment in the LDS Church whether as a home teacher, Bishop of the Highland Ward, Stake President of the Weber State College Stake, Explorer leader where he continued to camp with the boys into his seventies, or his most recent calling as teacher of the High Priest Group. He valued his associations as a member of a priesthood quorum. He loved serving as an Ordinance Worker and playing the organ in the Bountiful Temple. The most curious incident in his life was his decision to study Italian when he returned from picking up his daughter, Erin, from her mission in Milan. Though in his 60's and dependant on hearing aids, he studied on his own before enrolling in Italian at the University of Utah. No one was more astonished than he to be called as Mission President of the Italy Rome Mission. His service with the Italians and the missionaries of the Italy Rome Mission (1993 - 1996) was one of the great highlights of his life. He lived by the mission scripture found in Romans, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." His other passions included flying, Chinese cooking and the continual pursuit of knowledge. Gerald was a devoted husband and father. Though as a family we often felt we shared him with others, when we were on vacation at Lake Powell, The Palisades Reservoir in Wyoming or skiing with him, he was completely ours. He took his responsibilities to provide for his family seriously and made sure we felt loved and secure. His children are: Stephanie (Tom) Johnson, Freia (Kirk) Jenkins, Geralyn (David) Perkins, Steven Thaxton (Julie) Parker and Erin (Jason) Hale. He has 19 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Gerald is preceded in death by his parents. He is the oldest of six children and is the first to pass. His sisters and brother are: Janet (Lincoln) Sorenson, Peggy (Karl) Miller, Russell (Karen) Parker, Kathy (John) Stevens and Colette (Kim) Malan. Funeral services will be held Friday, December 8th at 11:00 a.m. at the 23rd East LDS Chapel in Salt Lake City, 4032 South 2300 East. Friends and family may call Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lindquist's Layton Mortuary, 1867 North Fairfield Road, and Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., at the church. Interment, Riverton Cemetery, Riverton, Utah. Email condolences to the family at lom@lindquistmortuary.com