No headline

James Cliffton Parker

James Cliffton Parker moved on to his Heavenly home on September 22, 2018, at Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

He was born Sept. 29, 1941, in Tuckaseegee N.C., to Samuel Matt Parker and Mildred Anne Watson. When Jim was six weeks old, the family moved to the Sedro Wooley area in western Washington, where his parents started several churches. The family later moved to Arcata, Calif., where Jim graduated from high school. He went on to attend Humboldt State University for two years where he studied industrial arts with the intention of teaching.

Instead, he chose to move to Yuba City, Calif., where he served his electrical apprenticeship. While there, he was an active member of Cooper Avenue Baptist Church. In the summer of 1963, he met his future wife, Joan at a church camp, and they were married in Yuba City in December of that year.

A few years later, Jim and Joan moved to Arcata where their son, Scott was born. After following Jim’s work to Longview, Wash. the family moved back to Yuba City where their daughter Jennifer was born. While there Jim was ordained as a deacon at Cooper Avenue Baptist Church.

In 1973 the family moved to Rathdrum, Idaho, where Jim started Parker Electric. By 1988 the business had evolved into electrical controls, so it was renamed Automatic Electrical Systems.

Jim loved life! He was an avid outdoorsman, car enthusiast and motorcycle rider. He was also a man of strong faith, which governed his life as he donated countless amounts of time and electrical materials to various churches in the area and provided his home to begin New Beginnings Baptist Church. While attending that church he also served as chairman of the building, adult Sunday school teacher and deacon. He and his family also served many years at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Coeur d’Alene.

Jim is survived by wife, Joan of Rathdrum; son, Scott (Claire) of Beaverton, Ore.; grandson, Ryan Parker; granddaughter, Kelsie Parker and great-granddaughter, Lexi Waggoner; daughter, Jennifer (Michael) Gross of Kennewick, Wash.; grandson, Ford Gross and granddaughter, Allayna Gross; and brother, Wallace (Patsy) Parker of Sun City, Ariz.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at New Beginning Church, 16138 N. Westwood Drive, Rathdrum.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New Beginnings Baptist Church in Rathdrum. Online condolences can be made at www.belltowerfuneralhome.com.