Murry Gene Parker

A Celebration of Life service for LTC Murry "Gene" Parker, ARMY (Ret), 91, of Smyrna, TN, will be Friday, December 31, 2021 at 12:00 PM at Sykes Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Waverly, TN. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until the time of service. Gene went home to be with the Lord and those that have gone before him, on December 25, 2021. He was born on May 4, 1930 in Waverly, TN, to Charlie and Nora Hall Parker. Gene was a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He began his military career in the United States Navy and then transferred to serve his country in the United States Army where he retired after over 22 years as a Lieutenant Colonel. He led a successful career in aviation including tours in Vietnam, and commendations such as: the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), Air Medal with Valor & 11OLC, and Legion of Merit awards, along with many more meritorious awards. Gene devoted much of his life after retirement to his faith. He was a pastor at Collinwood United Methodist, Lutes Methodist, and Abrahams Chapel Methodist Churches. Gene was a faithful man of God, amazing father, and loving "Daddy Gene" to all of his grandchildren. He will be missed until we see him again. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his son, Jerry Mack Buchanan; brothers: William Ernest Parker, Lawrence Ellis Parker, and Dalma Doyle Hall. He is survived by his children: Gene (Gail) Buchanan, Lynn Workman-Tyndall, Toni Parker-Price, and Eugenia Parker-Boulton; brother, Charles Eldon Parker; 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 17 great-great grandchildren. Grandsons and great-grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Please visit Gene's guestbook at www.sykesfuneralhome.com and share a memory with the family.