Herman M. Parks

Herman M. ""Red"" Parks, 82, of Poplar Bluff died Saturday, March 22, 2008 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Parks was born May 25, 1925, in Dale, Ark. He was of the Pentecostal faith, and had retired from Missouri Natural Gas Co. and later as a self-employed heating and air conditioning repairman. Mr. Parks was a veteran of the United States Navy having served on the USS Maryland during World War II at Pearl Harbor. He was a life time member of Amvets Post 29, in Poplar Bluff. Mr. Parks enjoyed raising goats, gardening, and fishing and hunting, especially quail hunting. He was also a children's favorite and much loved Santa Claus for many years, appearing at schools, factories, nursing homes and veterans organizations.

On Sept. 2, 1947, he married Ruby Williams, in Osceola, Ark. She preceded him in death on Jan. 15, 1978. On Dec. 13, 1978, he married Lana McNew at First Baptist Church, in Poplar Bluff. She survives.

Other survivors include four sons, Sam Parks and wife Wilma, Tom Parks and wife Linda, Dennis Parks and Robert Parks and wife Holly, all of Poplar Bluff; 10 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Sue Cannady, of Kenton, Tenn., and Mary Bryant, of Nashville, Tenn.; and a step-brother, Walter Ray Jackson, Jr., of Oklahoma City, Okla.

His parents, Jack and Erma (Morgan) Parks, two sisters, Kay Thomas and Martha Ann Jackson and a brother, James Thomas Parks preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 9 - 11 a.m. Tuesday at Cotrell Funeral Chapel, in Poplar Bluff. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. in the Chapel with the Rev. Randy Wallis officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.