Gary Lee Parkhurst

Gary Lee Parkhurst met his Lord and Savior on December 1, 2024. He passed away at his home in Mabank, TX with his loving and devoted family by his side. He was born February 22, 1940 in Wichita, Kansas to Lester Wayne and Janie Moss Parkhurst.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Robert Parkhurst, and sister Doris Jean Moore.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Sylvia Parkhurst, Daughters Julie Ann Key and husband Kyle, Joyce Janeen Lawless and husband Stephen, and grandchildren Nathan Key, Emily Wise and husband Caleb Hollis, and Caleb Key, and Great-Grandson, James Hollis Wise. His sister, Mary McNiel Hart, and bother Michael Wayne Parkhurst and wife, Charlotte, and sister-in-law Carolyn Parkhurst Smith. Nieces and Nephews: Tonya Burdett and husband, Tony; Natalie Smith and husband, Ricky; Renee Johnson and husband, Tommy, Page Proffitt, and husband Paul, Erin Davidson; Rod McNiel, and wife, Jo; Mark McNiel and wife, Susan; Amy Massey and husband, Don; Torrey Parkhurst, and Amber White and husband Chris; and lots of great-nieces and nephews. Sister-in-law, Nancy Goodwin and husband, Donnie Goodwin, and niece Jennifer Janeen Goodwin.

Gary joined the Army in 1960 and was stationed in Schwabisch Hall, Germany after boot camp. According to Gary, he was “sick as a dog” on the boat both to and from Germany.

After his military service, through God’s providence, he found himself in Boswell, Oklahoma where he would meet the love of his life, Sylvia, at the First Baptist Church, and after an eight month courtship, they married on May 29, 1966.

He loved farm life and raising cattle, hogs, goat, sheep, rabbits, quail, and chickens. He even got a Jersey cow for the grandkids to milk. He loved hunting and fishing, especially trotline fishing at Cedar Creek Lake. He always had a dog and had a garden.

He worked in construction for many years. Gary built cabinets, countertops, and many new homes in the Mabank area.

Thank you to Erica, Brandy, Angie, Hallie, and Pam for taking loving care of my husband and our dad in his last days on this earth.

Gary attended church all his life “whenever the doors were open”. During his last years, Gary and Sylvia attended First Missionary Baptist Church, Mabank.

As a teenager, Gary Parkhurst placed his faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. As a result, today, he is “absent from the body, and …. present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

A visitation for Gary will be held Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eubank Cedar Creek Funeral Home in Mabank, Texas. A funeral service will occur Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 1 p.m. at Cedar Creek Bible Church in Seven Points, Texas. Interment will follow at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Park in Mabank, Texas.

Serving as pallbearers are Tony Burdett, Torrey Parkhurst, Mark McNeil, Paul Proffitt, Rod McNeil, Coy Seay and Donnie Goodwin.