Fred Dewayne Parman

Dr. Fred DeWayne Parman died peacefully at home in Sarasota, Florida on Saturday, December 17th, 2016 at the age of 90. Dr. Parman is survived by his wife, Shirlee Vandiver Parman; children, Jamie Garrett Gavula and husband, Joe, of Oklahoma city, Oklahoma, Lousie Parman Slinkard of Checotah, Oklahoma, Fred DeWayne Parman, Jr. and wife, April of Mustang, Oklahoma, Lisanne Garrett of Boulder, Colorado, Marjorie Garrett Anderson and husband, Gary, of Muskogee, Oklahoma and Arthur Lee Parman of Saigon, Vietnam, sister Joe Parman Obenchain and husband, Ron of Stockton, Missouri; grandchildren, Marshall Anderson, Garrett Anderson and Jordan Parman. Dr. Parman was preceded in death by his parents. Fred Parman was born on March 23, 1926 in Sedan, Kansas to Lillie Marie Perdue and Herbert Rosenfeld Parman. He graduated from Sedan High School and enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Parman was a proud veteran of WWII with three years of overseas duty on the USS Cleveland in the South Pacific. He received the following military honors; Victory medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal and two Bronze Stars. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Parman then entered Oklahoma State University’s program for premedical studies. He joined Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and was a member of the OSU wrestling team. After earning his Doctorate from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Dr. Parman entered private practice in Checotah, Oklahoma where he served as a respected family physician for three decades. Fred was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Lions Club, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and received his 25 year pin from International Order of Odd Fellows. He was one of the founding Owners of Cedars and Checotah Nursing Homes. Dr. Parman also served as President of the Hospital Board of Muskogee Regional Medical Center and was instrumental in the development and building of the Oklahoma MRMC Cancer Center during his administration. Throughout his life, Fred was an active boater, water skier, pilot, gardener, bird hunter and fisherman. He became a master gardener after retirement in 1982. Fred and Shirlee enjoyed many years of visiting the Caribbean and Florida beaches to escape the Oklahoma winter. In 2007, Parman and wife, Shirlee, moved permanently to Siesta Key, Sarasota, Florida. Fred will be most remembered by friends and family for his magnetic personality and his ever-present wide smile. Funeral arrangements are pending for a service at St. Boniface Episcopal Church where Fred was a member. The Rev. Wayne Farrell will officiate the ceremony. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Fred’s life. Music will be Fred’s favorite hymns selected and performed by his children, Louise and Fred, Jr. The family would like to thank friends, neighbors of Siesta Harbor and Chasity Jackson for their kindness, generosity and dedicated caring of Fred over the years.