Morris Brown Parker III

Brownie has been an inspiration to the many people who knew him over a period of nearly sixty years living in Newport Beach. He had an enormous heart and a natural desire to make other people’s lives better. His small acts of kindness brightened countless lives.

Brownie is survived by his two sons, Michael Brown Parker (Denise) and Christian Aaron Parker (Mariel), his granddaughters Leann Marie Edwards (Colton) and Rachel Elizabeth Parker, and his great-grandson Grayson Matthew Edwards.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris Brown Parker Jr. and Alberta Carraher, his sister, Joan Hughes (Phillip), and his grandson, Matthew Brown Parker. Brownie’s most-treasured possession and his eternal companion, Deanna Jensen, passed away in February 2009, and he missed her every day for the nearly seventeen years they were parted in this life; they are now reunited, never to be separated again.

Brownie was raised in Glendale, California. His parents enrolled him in Harvard School, an all-boys military high school. He attended Occidental College, where he participated in ROTC and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics in 1956. From there, he was accepted into United States Air Force flight school as an officer.

Brownie loved aviation, and he especially loved flying the iconic Lockheed F-104C Starfighter. As a US Air Force fighter pilot, he was privileged to travel the world; over a period of a decade he was based in France, Libya, Germany, California, Spain, Alaska, Florida (during the Cuban Missile Crisis), and briefly in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1965 with the rank of captain.

Brownie met Deanna Jensen—“Dee”—at a party in 1965 and knew instantly that “she would be the one who would fill the void in my life.” They were married November 25, 1965, and spent forty-three years together. Brownie loved Dee with his whole soul, and he cherished her every day.

When they met, Dee was a stewardess supervisor with American Airlines, and Brownie also found a career as a pilot for American. After twenty-seven years with the airline, he retired in 1992 as a captain on the Douglas DC-10.

In 1968, Brownie and Dee bought a small beach house at the west end of Newport Beach. They originally planned to stay for only a few years but ended up making it their home for the rest of their lives together, remodeling it twice to make room for their two children. They made lifelong friends in the community and enjoyed living close to the beach.

Brownie was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in April 1973, and he and Dee were sealed for eternity in the Los Angeles Temple in May 1974. He and Dee cherished the many friends they made in the Newport Beach Stake of the church, and Brownie served twice as the bishop of a ward (congregation) and for nearly two decades as a member of the stake high council.

Brownie was, for lack of a better term, a legend. He flew nuclear-armed fighter aircraft at 2.3 times the speed of sound, and he also showed love, compassion, and service to hundreds—perhaps thousands—of people he met. He would call and visit people who were sick, write letters and emails of encouragement to young people who were in the military or missionary service abroad, and befriend people who were lonely, lost, or grieving. He was a tremendous example of charity, the pure love of Christ.

The family will receive friends at Pacific View Mortuary, 3500 Pacific View Drive, Corona del Mar, Friday, October 24, from 6:00 to 8:00 ᴘ.ᴍ. Funeral services are open to all who wish to honor him at 801 Dover Drive, Newport Beach, on Saturday, October 25, at 10:00 ᴀ.ᴍ. Brownie will be interred at Pacific View Mortuary in a shared plot with his beloved Dee.

For those who wish to view the services online you may click on this link: https://zoom.us/j/95540220836