John Robert Gray Parker

John Robert Gray Parker, 83, passed away Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in his home at Butterfield Trail Village in Fayetteville. He was born on Nov. 26, 1928, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Volney and Margaret Gray Parker. John served in the Navy from 1948-1952. Two-and-a-half of those years he served in the submarine service aboard the USS Guavina. John worked for Southwestern Electric Power Company for 33 years. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Prairie Grove, the Prairie Grove Lions Club, and a volunteer fireman, both in Fayetteville and Prairie Grove. John was a model railroad enthusiast and had a whole room in their Prairie Grove home devoted to his train layout, which he designed and built himself. John is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia Shaw Parker; his brother, Charles Volney Parker of Sun City Center, Fla.; two daughters, Susan Slaughter and her husband, Roy, of Fayetteville, and Kathy Ownbey and her husband, Carl, of Hot Springs; four grandchildren, Matt Slaughter and his wife, Angela, of Fayetteville, Sarah Fries and her husband, Pat, of Fayetteville, Brooke Ownbey of Hot Springs, and Suzanne Millstein and her husband, Aaron of Olympia, Wash.; and five great-grandchildren, Belle, Estella Dru, and Jeb Slaughter and Lynlee and Owen Fries. John loved his family and cherished the times spent with them. The memorial service will be held at Butterfield Trail Village at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, officiated by the Rev. Carl Ownbey. Memorials may be sent to Butterfield Trail Village Foundation, Health Care at 1923 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville, AR 72703. Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com