Joe Parks

Joe Parks of Foster passed away on Monday, March 11, 2024, at the age of 80 years in his home surrounded by his loving family.

The youngest of four children, Joe was born on January 23, 1944 to Coy and Morene Parks of Foster, OK. He shared his birthday with his older sister, Billie Jean. As a child, he made his own bulldozers from branches and always played right outside the kitchen window. He and his brother, Tommy, grew up rodeoing—riding bulls and roping. Joe graduated from Pernell High School in 1961. He was offered a roping scholarship to a college in TX, but never being one to travel far from home, chose to attend East Central University in Ada, OK. One evening, while cruising in his pink and white Oldsmobile, he spotted the love of his life, Norma Jean (Sheppard), at Kit Kat Drive-In. He winked at her, and the rest is history. They married on January 26, 1965 in Ada. 

Over the next eight years, they welcomed three boys, Tommy, Tracy, and Terry. Joe adored his children, rough-housing with them on the living room floor after a hard day’s work, reciting dirty nursery rhymes to them at bedtime, and bringing them into the family’s ranching work. When Tommy was sick with leukemia, Joe donated blood and platelets every chance he had. Joe supported Terry and Tracy’s love for performing arts by going to every speech competition and theater production they were in, no matter how far. 

Joe began his professional career as a history teacher and basketball coach in Mobetie, TX, and Dover, OK. In 1968, he became a roustabout for Texaco and worked his way up through the oil field ranks, retiring as a production supervisor over Marathon Oil’s Lindsay field. Never one to sit still for long, he then began completion consulting for oil and gas companies.

Joe adored his grandchildren, Coy and Stella. He loved simply watching them play. He bought a gator UTV just to take them on trips down into the pasture, even letting them drive it once they were out of their mama or granny's sight. He loved that Stella enjoyed cookies and cake and that Coy was fascinated by engineering and machinery as much as he was.

Joe was deeply connected to the land where he grew up. He lived the majority of his life on his ranch in Foster, which he inherited from his parents. Even during the periods of time when he lived elsewhere, Joe was home to visit on a near-weekly basis. He was a connector, always looking for ways to help family, friends, and even complete strangers better their lives. He was never afraid to speak up for what was right. He had an engineering mind and a heart for literature. You could tell him the tubing and casing pressure and the size of the pipe, and he immediately could spout off the exact volume of fluid in the tubing. His love was quiet, consistent, and dependable, extending to both people and all of his animals. This was evident in his actions, such as giving his two beloved miniature dachshunds elevator rides on his legs so they could join him on his recliner. He never lost his love for cornbread and perfected his own version of hot cornbread, which he was always delighted to share. More than anything, he loved to sit with family, drink Shiner Bock beer, and listen to stories as the sun set. Joe always added a poignant and humorous one-liner at each story’s end. He was the respected patriarch of his family. He was a light to everyone who knew him.

Joe was preceded in death by his brothers, Donnie and Tommy Parks, and his son, Tommy Wayne Parks. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Norma Jean; son Tracy; son Terry and daughter-in-law Amber; grandchildren Coy and Stella; sister Billie Fuller; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

Joe, Joey, Dad, Grandpa, you are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure! We’ll see you in the stars.

A visitation and storytelling time for family and friends will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Winans Funeral Home Chapel in Maysville, OK. 

Joe’s Celebration of Life will be held at 2:30 pm, Sunday, March 17, 2024, at the Abundant Love Fellowship, in Maysville with Bro. Danny Gamble officiating. 

Burial will be in the Foster Cemetery, Foster, OK. 

Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.winansfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, a place special to Joe and the entire Parks Family. 

Click here to donate online or by check to:

Oklahoma Children’s Hospital

PO Box 248955

Oklahoma City, OK 73124

In memory of Joe Parks

Recommended florist: Sunshine Flower Shop, Maysville

(405) 867-1236