COKER, Park

Park Coker, born April 26, 1926 in Lead Hill, Boone County, Arkansas, passed away at the age of 88, peacefully and surrounded by family and friends at his home in Halfway, Oregon on Saturday, July 19, 2014. A viewing will be held on Friday, July 25, 2014 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Traditional Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pine Baptist Church in Halfway. Vault Interment at Pine Haven Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family for a reception to be held immediately following the service at the Pine Baptist Youth Center. Park was the third of eight children of Jess and Nellie Coker.After Park’s birth, the family moved to Protem, Missouri and homesteaded along the banks of James River and Bull Schoals Lake. Park left school as a young man to assist his father working on the family farm to provide for his family. Park felt like that was his responsibility as the eldest son. As a young adult he farmed, logged, worked construction, and served on a crew that relocated a cemetery. Parkwanted to volunteer for the United States Armed Forces during World War II and was not able to due to, a small physical impairment. However, he was able to assist in the war effort by working in a Kansas City factory assembling components for Boeing B-17 bombers. In the early 1950s, Park decided he wanted to head “West”. He settled in Prineville, Oregon where he met and married his beloved, Ethel Hilderbrand, mother of six. While in Prineville, Park went back to logging. During the construction of the Round Butte Dam in Central Oregon, he worked as a general laborer. In 1963, Park and Ethel moved with their granddaughter Parklyn, who they had raised to Halfway, Oregon. Parktook a job helping construct the Hell’s Canyon Dam until it’s completion. Loving Halfway, the family remained andPark would not live anywhere else. Once again, Park returned to logging and retired in 1982 after being severely injured while falling a tree. Park was an avid outdoorsmen who enjoyed cutting wood, mushrooming and gardening. He loved cat fishing on the Snake River, elk and deer hunting in the Pine Eagle Valleys. Park would return to Protem, Missouri often to visit his family who still live there. His trips always occurred during the Missouri Wild Turkey Season. Park enjoyed his drives through the mountains and especially got a kick guiding city folks down the Hess Logging Road. He always referred to the Pine Eagle Valleys as “God’s country.” In the years following his wife Ethel’s death in 1991, Park began volunteering at Pine Heaven Cemetery. This was especially treasured time for him. Park also worked to upgrade the Coker Bald (family) Cemetery, located in the White River Basin, Missouri. In the summer of 1999 Park took his Great Grandson Cody on a two week trip trough Alaska. Park always wanted to see "them big mountains”. Park enjoyed several trips with long time friend and partner in crime Dude Douglas to some of the North America’s biggest rodeos, even attending the Calgary Stampede. Also, family and friends knew that it was best not to call or visit Monday and Fridays nights. Park was busy watching his “wrastin” and that it wouldn’t be a very productive conversation. Park was a family man and friend above all else. He had great pride in all his relationships, including Jesus Christ who he said on numerous occasions is looking forward to meeting. Park thoroughly enjoyed his church family at Pine Baptist Church. He liked showing up early and handing out pamphlets. His family and friends all knew he enjoyed the "hugs from the ladies" more. While on hospice during his last few days, Park told his great grandson Cody, he was proud of the life he lived. There were some tough days in his life, but that he had more good days than tough days. Park is survived by “his girl” Parklyn Maine Burrows and her husband Ted of Pendleton, Oregon, Great Grandson Cody Maine, his wife Brittany and their son Parker of Walla Walla WA, brother Jessie Coker, sister Mary MaeCoker, sister Bessie Gideon and her husband Robert, numerous nieces and nephews, stepson Jim and Theresa Hilderbrand of Halfway, stepson Leon and wife Nell Hilderbrand of Prineville Oregon, stepdaughter Colleen Campbell of Hermiston Oregon, and their families. Park was proceeded in death by his wife Ethel, his parents Jess and Nellie Coker, two brothers, two sisters, two stepdaughters, one stepson, and three step granddaughters. Memorial donations may be made in Park's honor to Pine Baptist Church or to Heart-n-Home Hospice through Tami's Pine Valley Funeral Home & Cremation Services PO Box 543 Halfway, Oregon 97834. On Line Condolences may be shared at www.tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com. therconline.com 31 July 2014