His name was Harley Mills Parker Jr., but a lot of people knew him simply as "Trooper Parker." In fact, for years, he couldn't walk down the aisle at the grocery store without someone saying "Trooper Parker, Trooper Parker!" and sharing how much they loved his visits to their school when they were growing up. They knew him because he spent 12 years as a safety education officer making speeches at hundreds of schools and organizations teaching auto, bicycle, pedestrian, fire, and drug safety in Montour, Union, Northumberland, and Snyder counties. His favorite title, though, was not "Trooper." It was "Pappy" since being a grandfather was the best role of all. Harley was known to enjoy a good practical joke and an opportunity to call things like he saw them.
Harley was born Feb. 21, 1940, in Berwick. He died Dec. 1, 2020, at home in Shamokin Dam after a battle with cancer. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Merrie L. (Hess) Parker. They were hometown sweethearts in Berwick. He is also survived by his children, who brought him great pride: Robert H. Parker (Lisa Fassano) of Philadelphia, Mark Parker of Selinsgrove, Elizabeth Parker (Holly Holland), and his cherished grandson, Parker Joseph Holland of Northern California. Over the years, Harley and Merrie also found great joy in their niece, Amy Hunter, and dear friends, Mary Jo and Rylie Troutman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harley M. Parker Sr. and Leta Parker; his siblings, Zane and Imogene Parker; and his in-laws, Robert and Josephine Hess.
Harley grew up in Berwick, graduated from Berwick Area Senior High School, and the Pennsylvania State Police Academy. On Oct. 17, 1964, he married Merrie Louise Hess at the First United Methodist Church in Berwick. Harley served a total of 20 years as a Pennsylvania State Trooper. In that role, he received the U.S. Department of Defense Ten Foot Tall Award for his leadership and efforts during the disaster relief operations following the devastation of Tropical Storm Agnes in 1972. In 1973, he received the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Traffic Safety. Over the years, he was invited to teach driving skills and safety techniques to General Electric's International utility employees in the Central American country of Belize. He retired from the State Police to run for District Justice and was elected to the Eastern District Court, defeating the incumbent by a landslide in November 1981. He took office in January 1982. He was re-elected and served three six-year terms as District Justice for Magisterial Court 17-3-03 and retired in January 2000.
Harley served for many years on the Susquehanna Valley AAA Board of Directors. He was a member of the PA Association of Retired State Employees, the Defender Fire Company of Berwick, and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church for 54 years and served the church in various capacities. He was integral to the success of "Journey of Hope," a cancer support group founded at the church.
Harley's hobbies included hunting, fishing, woodcarving, auto racing and his favorite - being a Pappy to his grandson, Parker.
A Celebration of Life will be announced by the family at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Harley's memory may be made to The Endowment Fund at Wesley United Methodist Church, 300 Rhoads Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870, which helps support the "Journey of Hope" Cancer Support Group.
The family is being serviced by the V.L. Seebold Funeral Home, 601 N. High St., Selinsgrove.
Published on December 1, 2020