Donald Benton Parker

Donald Benton Parker, Sr., age 73, of D'Iberville, MS passed away unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, August 22, 2015. He was a devoted father, fiancé, grandfather, boater, and all around social butterfly. He loved his life, and loved to share it with his family and his large group of loving friends. He was born in D'Iberville where he remained a lifelong resident. He was a graduate of D'Iberville High School class of 1959, serving as valedictorian. He received an electronics degree from MGCCC, Perkinston campus. As a young man, he was a member of the National Guard and in later years became a member of The Loyal Order of Moose. Don was a world traveler, a benefit of his employment at Northrup Grumman/Ingall's Ship Building until his retirement as program manager in 2002, and also a product of his love for adventure. He took his family and loved ones around the country, teaching them that there are many different people in this world, all just waiting to make a friend from South Mississippi. He had a very special group of friends that he enjoyed being a part of, "the nuclear submarine group” that has remained a close network of contemporaries over many years and many miles. Don loved the water, and spent many weekends on his boat, sharing his love and enthusiasm for fishing and boating with his friends, children and grandchildren, passing that love on to his family. Not many could throw a cast net or catch mullet the way he did, even though he was happy to give advice to anyone who'd listen, and some who wouldn't! He spent many hours with his friends under the Back Bay Bridge, solving the problems of the world. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse Shadrach Parker and Lottie Belle Tootle Parker; infant sister, Marlene Parker; and brother, Lloyd Parker. He is survived by his fiancé, Penny Ransonet Morris; and his first wife, Charlotte Martino Parker; brothers and sisters, Earl Joseph Parker (Dot), Jesse Lee Parker (Jean), Dorothy Mae Ellis (Bob) and Laura Gertrude "Gertie" Seymour; children, Don "Donnie" Parker, Jr, (Mozzie), Kim Parker Varnado (Keith), David Parker (Tracey), Derren Parker and Shawn Kuhn (Kenny); his much loved grandchildren, Louie and Cody Carroll, Jake, Grant and Jesse Parker, Hailey and Cassidy Surian, Kenneth and Shelby Kuhn. We will miss you, our dad, lover, paw-paw, and friend. We will forever cherish the time and memories we made with you. The family requests donations to a program that was very special to Don, The Maritime and Seafood Museum Sea-N-Sail Adventure Camp, a summer camp program for kids, to which he sponsored many excited future marine adventurers. Donations can be made at the museum or online at www.maritimemuseum.org A celebration of Don's life will be held for his coworkers, friends and loved ones on Saturday, August 29, 2015 from 5-8 pm at The Maritime Seafood Museum, 115 1st Street, Biloxi, MS. We invite those who knew him to come and share memories and stories of Don and how he touched your lives. Dress will be casual, socks are optional. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.