Jim "J.P." Parker

Jim Parker passed away on August 9, 2015 at the age of 69. He was born March 31, 1946 in Clinton, Oklahoma and lived most of his life within the borders of the state of Oklahoma, with the last 40 years in eastern Oklahoma County. Jim had the chance to go on many adventures in his life. He went on a wheat harvest at the age of 16 and traveled from Oklahoma to Montana, and he served as a Marine in Vietnam. He started his own construction company and built houses that are still standing today. Later he opened a feed store, JP’s, which he operated for over 25 years until he “retired.” In 1973, Jim started his best adventure when he married Elizabeth Cole and began a family. His daughter Keely joined the adventure in 1977 and son Charlie in 1979. 6 year old Charlie brought home a slip of paper from school about playing soccer, and this began a 30 year adventure for Jim Parker in the Choctaw-Nicoma Park Soccer organization. He served as a coach and referee for youth soccer and coached boys and girls from 4 years old to 17. This year, CNP will begin fall soccer for the first time in 30 years without Jim coaching or refereeing. Whether it was the young men and women he employed at JP’s or the players he coached at soccer, Jim Parker had a positive impact on the lives of many kid growing up in the Choctaw, Nicoma Park, and Midwest City area. Jim is survived by his wife, Liz; his daughter, Keely and son-in-law Jason; son, Charlie; mother, Eva and father, Leo; sister, Patricia; grandchildren, Ruby, Boston, Sofi and Simi; and the many men and women that knew him as coach. A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2015 at the Choctaw United Methodist Church located at 1200 N. Choctaw Road. All friends and family are invited to join in the celebration.