Melvin J. Parks was born in Gideon, Missouri on March 15, 1937 to Esther and William Melvin Parks. He went to meet his Lord and Savior on August 13, 2018. Mel lived 81 years 4 months and 28 days. He spent 54 of those years with his loving and truly devoted wife, Louise.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Doyle Robert Parks and one sister, Betty Parks. He has one living sister; Peggy Stallins of Fredrick Town, Missouri.

Mel has two daughters; Wanda Norris (husband Joe Norris) of Bellflower, Mo and Lori Stuehmeyer of Pilot Knob, Mo. and one son, Rick Melvin Parks (wife Debbie) of Spencer, Indiana. (Rick is Mel and Louise's only child together).   He also had four step-children that he and Louise raised together; Wayne Roach (deceased), Anita Pickerel, Brad Roach, Cindy Hesterberg (husband Mark) all of Missouri. His seven children blessed him with 22 grandchildren, 27 Great-grandchildren (1deceased) and four Great-Great-grandchildren.  Mel also has several nieces & nephews spread out in Missouri and Iowa.

He also left behind his 15 year old horse Patches that he actually would take her a cup cake on her birthday, (she was born in March so he made his birthday Her Birthday too so they could celebrate together and of course there is his dog, LUCKY; Lucky was supposed to have been Louise's puppy but guess what, Mel became his master and believe me, LUCKY had Mel trained really well. They will miss him very much and Wanda will miss those times with her Dad & Patches, they would have their talks and disagreements while feeding Patches. Such precious memories. Rick will miss those every morning at 8 a.m. having his coffee and talking on the phone with his dad. They talked, they laughed, they remembered and yes they disagreed. Lori will miss her dad, she will miss those phone calls, the visits and knowing that he is there.  Mel was a Veteran of the United States Navy, serving from 1957 until 1959.  Mel was a member of the First Baptist Church of Montgomery City with many, many friends that enjoyed his company.

Anyone who knew Mel Parks at all, knew is passion for Elvis & his songs, but his real joy came from his own voice singing "Elvis" as he called it. His love was so great that he built his own 30x60 Singing Shed. He spent many, many, many hours in that building with friends, with family with Louise and a lot of time just by himself. He truly enjoyed hearing himself sing as we will hear today. Mel will be missed by so many and in so many different ways.

Funeral services were held at Noon on Thursday, August 16, 2018, at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, MO. Interment with Military Honors was in the Bellflower Cemetery in Bellflower, MO. Visitation was held on Thursday from 10:00 AM until the time of service at the Schlanker Funeral Home in Montgomery City, MO. Casketbearers included Rick Parks, Joe Norris, Doyle Parks, Kyle Norris, Tim Moore, Brad Road, and Mark Hesterberg.

Memorial contributions are suggested to the Bellflower Cemetery, c/o Schlanker Funeral Home, 207 Danville Road, Montgomery City, MO   63361.