Henry Lee Parks was born February 15, 1923, near Eldorado, Oklahoma to Phillip Henry (P.H.) and Pearlie Lee Crabtree Parks. He passed from this life on February 10, 2008. He was know by his family as "Lee," known by his Celanese co-workers as "Pete" and know by his military buddies as "Hank."
Lee moved with his family to Reydon, Oklahoma in 1929, graduated from Reydon High School in 1941, and was employed for two years at Consolidated Aircraft, San Diego, California before entering the U.S. Air Corp.
During World War II, Lee (S/Sgt.) served in the 347th Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, 5th Wing of the 15th Air Force. While stationed at Tortorello Air Field, Foggia, Italy, he completed 35 missions as a left wing gunner on a B-17G and also served as assistant crew chief and photographer. In 1946, following his discharge, he sudied mechanical enginerring at Oklahoma A&M University (now OSU). Lee was an organizing charter member and director of The 99th Bomb Group Historical Society.
In 1952, Lee was employed by Celanese Chemical Co. and worked there for 30 years. He was an engineering specialist, process control and instrument development. He served as president of Celanese Employees Club, Pamcel Credit Union, Celanese Gun Club and Celanese Bowling League. Following his retirement from Celanese, he purhcased the family farm and moved to Reydon, Oklahoma.
He retired from farming in 1995 and moved to Canadian, Texas. Lee was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas. Lee loved music from an early childhood, played the violin, viola and cello. He enjoyed attending country and western dances, muical events and the Amarillo Symphony.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dillion, Elzy, Bill and Jim; and sisters, Velva and Johnnie Bell.
He is survived by three sons, Gary Lee and Cyndi, Pampa, Texas, Gregg Keith, Cortez, Colorado, and Dale Kent and Margaret, Mount Pleasant, Texas; grandsons Nathan and Dustin Parks, Odessa, Texas; granddaughters, Claudia and Mark Cruz (special "grandson"), Amarillo, Texas, Mandy and Bryan Waldrip, Pampa, Texas, Brooke and Bryan Kincannon, Amarillo, Texas, Tiffany Parks, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Jessica and Charles Overstreet, Kennedale, Texas, Courtney and Ricardo Cruz, Kennedale, Texas; step-granddaughters, Megan, Cari, Claire and Tori Renfro, Mount Pleasant, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Nadia and Gerald Martin, Reydon, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Goldie Parks, Guthrie, Oklahoma; special nephew, Dillion Leon Parks, Reydon, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews; and former wives, Marie Parks, Pampa, Texas and Mary Ann Ashley, Canadian, Texas.
Lee moved with his family to Reydon, Oklahoma in 1929, graduated from Reydon High School in 1941, and was employed for two years at Consolidated Aircraft, San Diego, California before entering the U.S. Air Corp.
During World War II, Lee (S/Sgt.) served in the 347th Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, 5th Wing of the 15th Air Force. While stationed at Tortorello Air Field, Foggia, Italy, he completed 35 missions as a left wing gunner on a B-17G and also served as assistant crew chief and photographer. In 1946, following his discharge, he sudied mechanical enginerring at Oklahoma A&M University (now OSU). Lee was an organizing charter member and director of The 99th Bomb Group Historical Society.
In 1952, Lee was employed by Celanese Chemical Co. and worked there for 30 years. He was an engineering specialist, process control and instrument development. He served as president of Celanese Employees Club, Pamcel Credit Union, Celanese Gun Club and Celanese Bowling League. Following his retirement from Celanese, he purhcased the family farm and moved to Reydon, Oklahoma.
He retired from farming in 1995 and moved to Canadian, Texas. Lee was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas. Lee loved music from an early childhood, played the violin, viola and cello. He enjoyed attending country and western dances, muical events and the Amarillo Symphony.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dillion, Elzy, Bill and Jim; and sisters, Velva and Johnnie Bell.
He is survived by three sons, Gary Lee and Cyndi, Pampa, Texas, Gregg Keith, Cortez, Colorado, and Dale Kent and Margaret, Mount Pleasant, Texas; grandsons Nathan and Dustin Parks, Odessa, Texas; granddaughters, Claudia and Mark Cruz (special "grandson"), Amarillo, Texas, Mandy and Bryan Waldrip, Pampa, Texas, Brooke and Bryan Kincannon, Amarillo, Texas, Tiffany Parks, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Jessica and Charles Overstreet, Kennedale, Texas, Courtney and Ricardo Cruz, Kennedale, Texas; step-granddaughters, Megan, Cari, Claire and Tori Renfro, Mount Pleasant, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Nadia and Gerald Martin, Reydon, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Goldie Parks, Guthrie, Oklahoma; special nephew, Dillion Leon Parks, Reydon, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews; and former wives, Marie Parks, Pampa, Texas and Mary Ann Ashley, Canadian, Texas.
Henry Lee Parks was born February 15, 1923, near Eldorado, Oklahoma to Phillip Henry (P.H.) and Pearlie Lee Crabtree Parks. He passed from this life on February 10, 2008. He was know by his family as "Lee," known by his Celanese co-workers as "Pete" and know by his military buddies as "Hank."
Lee moved with his family to Reydon, Oklahoma in 1929, graduated from Reydon High School in 1941, and was employed for two years at Consolidated Aircraft, San Diego, California before entering the U.S. Air Corp.
During World War II, Lee (S/Sgt.) served in the 347th Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, 5th Wing of the 15th Air Force. While stationed at Tortorello Air Field, Foggia, Italy, he completed 35 missions as a left wing gunner on a B-17G and also served as assistant crew chief and photographer. In 1946, following his discharge, he sudied mechanical enginerring at Oklahoma A&M University (now OSU). Lee was an organizing charter member and director of The 99th Bomb Group Historical Society.
In 1952, Lee was employed by Celanese Chemical Co. and worked there for 30 years. He was an engineering specialist, process control and instrument development. He served as president of Celanese Employees Club, Pamcel Credit Union, Celanese Gun Club and Celanese Bowling League. Following his retirement from Celanese, he purhcased the family farm and moved to Reydon, Oklahoma.
He retired from farming in 1995 and moved to Canadian, Texas. Lee was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas. Lee loved music from an early childhood, played the violin, viola and cello. He enjoyed attending country and western dances, muical events and the Amarillo Symphony.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dillion, Elzy, Bill and Jim; and sisters, Velva and Johnnie Bell.
He is survived by three sons, Gary Lee and Cyndi, Pampa, Texas, Gregg Keith, Cortez, Colorado, and Dale Kent and Margaret, Mount Pleasant, Texas; grandsons Nathan and Dustin Parks, Odessa, Texas; granddaughters, Claudia and Mark Cruz (special "grandson"), Amarillo, Texas, Mandy and Bryan Waldrip, Pampa, Texas, Brooke and Bryan Kincannon, Amarillo, Texas, Tiffany Parks, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Jessica and Charles Overstreet, Kennedale, Texas, Courtney and Ricardo Cruz, Kennedale, Texas; step-granddaughters, Megan, Cari, Claire and Tori Renfro, Mount Pleasant, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Nadia and Gerald Martin, Reydon, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Goldie Parks, Guthrie, Oklahoma; special nephew, Dillion Leon Parks, Reydon, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews; and former wives, Marie Parks, Pampa, Texas and Mary Ann Ashley, Canadian, Texas.
Lee moved with his family to Reydon, Oklahoma in 1929, graduated from Reydon High School in 1941, and was employed for two years at Consolidated Aircraft, San Diego, California before entering the U.S. Air Corp.
During World War II, Lee (S/Sgt.) served in the 347th Squadron, 99th Bomb Group, 5th Wing of the 15th Air Force. While stationed at Tortorello Air Field, Foggia, Italy, he completed 35 missions as a left wing gunner on a B-17G and also served as assistant crew chief and photographer. In 1946, following his discharge, he sudied mechanical enginerring at Oklahoma A&M University (now OSU). Lee was an organizing charter member and director of The 99th Bomb Group Historical Society.
In 1952, Lee was employed by Celanese Chemical Co. and worked there for 30 years. He was an engineering specialist, process control and instrument development. He served as president of Celanese Employees Club, Pamcel Credit Union, Celanese Gun Club and Celanese Bowling League. Following his retirement from Celanese, he purhcased the family farm and moved to Reydon, Oklahoma.
He retired from farming in 1995 and moved to Canadian, Texas. Lee was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Canadian, Texas. Lee loved music from an early childhood, played the violin, viola and cello. He enjoyed attending country and western dances, muical events and the Amarillo Symphony.
Lee was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dillion, Elzy, Bill and Jim; and sisters, Velva and Johnnie Bell.
He is survived by three sons, Gary Lee and Cyndi, Pampa, Texas, Gregg Keith, Cortez, Colorado, and Dale Kent and Margaret, Mount Pleasant, Texas; grandsons Nathan and Dustin Parks, Odessa, Texas; granddaughters, Claudia and Mark Cruz (special "grandson"), Amarillo, Texas, Mandy and Bryan Waldrip, Pampa, Texas, Brooke and Bryan Kincannon, Amarillo, Texas, Tiffany Parks, Mount Pleasant, Texas, Jessica and Charles Overstreet, Kennedale, Texas, Courtney and Ricardo Cruz, Kennedale, Texas; step-granddaughters, Megan, Cari, Claire and Tori Renfro, Mount Pleasant, Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; sister Nadia and Gerald Martin, Reydon, Oklahoma; sister-in-law, Goldie Parks, Guthrie, Oklahoma; special nephew, Dillion Leon Parks, Reydon, Oklahoma; nieces and nephews; and former wives, Marie Parks, Pampa, Texas and Mary Ann Ashley, Canadian, Texas.
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