Phil Parker

Philip Charles Parker, age 73, passed away at home, surrounded by family in Marshall, Texas on January 27, 2020.  A native son of East Texas, Phil was born on July 8, 1946 in Marshall, Texas to John Byron and Beulah (Anderson) Parker. He is preceded in death by his wife, Laurie Marie Maranto Parker; his parents, John Byron Parker, Sr. and Beulah Anderson Parker; his brothers, John Byron Parker, Jr. and Glen Parker; his sister-in-law, Phyllis “Lili” Maranto Bailey and his dear, four legged companion of eighteen years, “Dolly”.  Phil is survived by his children with Laurie: daughter, Dr. Amanda Parker Nylund and her husband, Scott Aaron Nylund, their children Wyatt Parker Nylund and Fletcher Scott Nylund; his son, Patrick Cain Parker and his wife, Amanda Pilkington Parker, their children Preston Cain Parker, Kaden Wynn Short, and Megan Victoria Newton.  Also by his children with Debra Dodd Parker: son, Adam Clayton Parker and his wife, Jordan Parker, their daughter Haley Reese Parker; and daughter Desiree Parker Pomales and her husband Ray, their children Sage and Allison Johnson; his brother and best friend, Byron “Andy” Anderson Parker; brother, Wayne Parker and his wife, Beckey Parker.  Phil is also survived by Andy’s children, his niece, Jennifer Biddenstadt; his nephew, Jeffrey Parker; and numerous other family members and his dear friends as beloved as family, Raymond and Grace Christmas, Mark and Marchele Maranto, the Anderson, Craig, Parker, Parrish, and Spencer families.  Phil is also survived by his son, Philip Charles Parker, Jr., 06/18/1964, a granddaughter, Olivia, and great-grandchildren Myleah, Mackenzie, Munroe and Gary Parker.  

Phil was the absolute illustration of a life well lived.  His early years he spent working on the dairy with his parents and brothers.  He learned hard work at an early age, commonly telling stories of delivering milk and selling cow manure for fertilizer by age 5.  Early in life his ambition and entrepreneurial spirit were evident. He had multiple business ventures such as selling contraband fireworks from New Orleans with his best friend Roy Lee Fry and making moonshine in the woods,all before his teen years. His young adult years were spent traveling.  He took his first job abroad as a welder at age 19, unknowing that this would mark the beginning of his lifelong love affair with pipeline construction.  He proceeded to work on multiple continents and in countless countries.  He gathered experience, and ultimately established his own pipeline construction company.  Many hard breaks later, the ups and downs of the oil industry, and life setbacks, he found success and failure in equal measure. In the struggle he became wickedly resilient and unbelievably adaptable to whatever life threw his way. Along the way he became a husband, a father, and made countless friends that would love and adore him until his last breath. Ultimately, he created his true masterpiece in Kurdistan, Iraq. He realized his vision in his company Petroweld.  Petroweld has become a large oilfield process plant, manufacturing, and construction company. It’s the only one in Kurdistan and has approximately 700 employees. Petroweld's facilities and manufacturing plant is first-rate and holds all international welding and plant construction certificates. It's unlike anything else in the country. Petroweld's clients are now all the international and national oilfield companies in the country (Kurdistan).  Not only did he find his passion, he found an entire family on the other side of the world.  He jokingly told everyone he had 300 children. He considered all of his employees family and created a culture of loyalty and collaboration.  Many have reached out since his death saying Phil was their father, their leader, taught them how to work, and how to be better.  They all echo the deep loss felt with his passing. Phil remained loyal to East Texas and his roots, all the while growing the family ranch, even while living abroad.  He has grown the original family ranch by over 300%, making it home to over 15 breeds of cattle and doing extensive land development. With his success Phil found his other true love in life, philanthropy.  He told very few, very little about all the good he did in the world.  Only after his death did even his family learn the extent of his generosity.  He funded orphanages, elementary schools, churches, and medical care efforts in Uganda and Iraq.  There was no organization or individual in need to which he did not offer his help. Phil had a personality so big, a heart so generous, and a life so vibrant, he was beyond adequate description with mere words.  He loved stronger, worked harder, and lived with an intensity not comprehensible by most.  He was truly remarkable.  The void he has left in the hearts of an amazingly diverse group of people scattered all over the world speaks to exactly who he was.  He believed in the beauty of humanity and shared himself and his gifts freely.  Phil experienced people without judgement, carried himself with no pretense, and lived with purpose. The poor dairy kid from East Texas, turned into a world traveler, an accomplished international entrepreneur, a beloved father, a mentor to hundreds, a humble philanthropist, can now lay down and take rest behind the Pine curtain which was always home.   

A private service will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2020.  Please contact the family for details.