Scott Merrill Parker

Scott Merrill Parker, 86 years of age, of Gautier, went home to the Lord on Monday, June 9, 2014 while surrounded by loving family. He was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Vera P. Parker. Scott was born in Lowell, MA on August 13, 1927 and grew up in Dover, NH. He served in the U.S. Army with the occupation forces in Japan following WWII and was honorably discharged in 1947. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of New Hampshire in 1951 with a BS in Chemical Engineering, the same year he married his wife, Vera. Scott worked in this field until his retirement in 2001, most recently at Morton Thiokol in Moss Point, MS. Scott and Vera were both active members of the First United Methodist Church in Gautier. His hobbies included boating, fishing, hunting, camping, and woodworking. He was a voracious reader and an avid student of U.S. history. Scott was a devoted father of five and a dedicated loving husband. His family was his life. He had many friends and was highly regarded by all who knew him. He was a modest, gentle, and caring man with an easy sense of humor and a friendly, outgoing manner. He will be dearly missed by anyone fortunate enough to have crossed his path in this life. He is survived by his sons Glenn W. Parker of Lake Mary, FL, Scott B. Parker of Mobile, AL, Bruce D. Parker of Columbia, SC; daughters Joan B. Tuite of Gautier, MS and Elizabeth A. Smith of Brick, NJ; grandchildren Stephanie N. Park of Biloxi, Sara L. Tuite of Ocean Springs, Lauren M. Smith and Collin P. Smith of Brick, NJ; Sophia E. Parker of Lake Mary, FL, Katey M. Parker of Columbia, SC, and Kenneth L. Parker of Aurora, IL. A great grandchild, Noah Stephen Smith (Tuite), was born only days after Scott’s death. A new great grandson, Jackson Scott Park, is expected to be born in September. Scott is also survived by his sister, Barbara Woodard of Amesbury, MA. A visitation will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2014 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am with a memorial service to follow at the First United Methodist Church of Gautier, Mississippi. The service will be conducted by the Reverend James M. Salter. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Wounded Warrior Project or the building fund of the First United Methodist Church of Gautier. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Community Hospice, and especially Laura, for the care and attention they provided to the person we loved so dearly. Most importantly of all, the entire family is forever indebted to Scott’s daughter, Liz, who tirelessly cared for her father during the final three months of his life, and without whom he could never have remained at home and surrounded by those who loved him. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.