Fletcher Davis Parker

Fletcher Davis Parker, 99 year resident of the Perry, New York community, and active lifelong dairy farmer in the Towns of Castile and Perry, passed away peacefully during the evening of January 6, 2018 in his home on Middle Reservation Road. He was born December 3, 1918, a son of Lawrence and Athalia Davis Parker.
Fletcher’s was a long, active life that was centered on his family, his farm, and the people of his local community. He thrived on the steadiness and tradition of his rural small-town life but knowing and insightful in his understanding of the change and cycles of bigger events. Children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren have benefitted from the support of his care and the rich stories of their roots and legacy. He graduated from Perry High School in 1937 and loved his ag courses and playing basketball and baseball. He just celebrated 80 years as an alumnus. He chose not to continue his formal education, but determined that his seven children, and their children would all receive college educations and beyond. There was rarely a school activity or sport, with a child, grandchild, or great grandchild participating, that Fletcher did not make every possible effort to attend.
His was the 5th generation of Parkers as farmers in this area, a legacy that started in Gibsonville and Leicester in 1819. Fletcher’s farming days began before he was two years old, feeding cows and calves with his father, and continuing with many long days of tractor field work past his 95th birthday…truly a love of the life and work of a farmer. Farming-connected organizations were important to him and he served and supported the Grange, the Farm Bureau, Cooperative Extension, Pro-Fac Cooperative, and the Dairymen’s League in his earlier farming days.
In 99 years, a lot can be contributed to a community. He served his Brick Presbyterian Church for his entire life, joining in 1935, appointed as elder in 1946, participating as a Sunday School teacher for years and acting as a lifelong elder. He joined the Masonic Lodge in 1943, served as Master, was recognized for distinguished service and maintained active membership and support until his death. The education provided by Perry schools was valued, and he proudly served on the Perry Central School Board from 1963 through 1978.
Surviving Fletcher is his wife of 69 years, Hazel Luce Parker (married September 1, 1948), and (of Perry, NY, unless noted) sister Ruth A. Parker, and seven children Eric S. Parker (Margaret), Laurel R. Hartley (Howard) (Spring, TX), Kristin R. Cox (Brian), Lucinda A. Parker, Calvin D. Parker, Beth L. Parker (Sarah Fogler) (Guelph, Ont.), and Brian F. Parker (Kathleen). His seventeen grandchildren are Nathan Parker (Tammy) (Trumansburg), Erin Parker (Frank Stewart) (Atlanta, Ga), Rachel Parker (Thomas) (Woodbridge, VA), Matthew Hartley (Dawn Breece King) (CO), Margo Hartley, Timothy Cox (Ashley) (Greenwich, CT), Meghan Hayes (William) (Evanston, IL), Gregory Cox (Vivian Lim) (New Haven, CT), Wesley Cox (Becky Nauert) (Scottsville, NY), Eliza Cox, Leah Parker, William Parker, Jan Lawrence Parker, Parker Fogler (Guelph, Ont.), Calvin Fogler (Guelph, Ont.), Haley Parker, and Abigail Parker. Twelve great grandchildren are Tess Parker, Annalee Parker, Elias Parker (all Trumansburg), Lily Parker, Lucas Parker, and Jonah Parker (all Woodbridge, VA), Annabelle Shutter-Hartley (TX), Brooklynn King and Addisyn King (CO), Warren Cox and Henry Cox (Greenwich, CT), and Fletcher Hayes (IL).
In addition to his parents Lawrence and Athalia, he is pre-deceased by a brother Lawrence S. Parker and an infant grandson Andrew Spence Parker.
Friends and neighbors may call at the Eaton-Watson Funeral Home in Perry, NY on Friday January 12, 2018 from 4 pm to 8 pm. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 3 pm at the Brick Presbyterian Church, corner of N. Main St. and Church St. in Perry, NY.
Memorial gifts can be made to Brick Presbyterian Church, 6 Church Street, Perry, NY 14530 or Perry Masonic Lodge scholarship funds P.O. Box 324, Perry, NY 14530.
Fletcher will be laid to rest in Glenwood Cemetery, Perry, NY.