Sheldon F. Parker passed away Thursday, March 16, 2006 from complications of a stroke. No one ever called him Sheldon, at least not to his face; everyone called him Bud. He was born in 1918 in Holbrook, Idaho to Ralph and Tressa Parker, and in 1933 Bud, his brother Tex and their father drove a herd of horses and a wagon containing all their belongings to Erda, Utah. Bud worked as a ranch hand in Wyoming, Nevada and Utah before marrying Mary Blair in 1940. In 1943 they moved to Granite, Utah where Bud built the log house in which they raised their six children: Lyle (Carol), Emily (John) Timmins, Ken (Sonja), Jeff (Sue), Hal and Nancy (Sam) Olsen. Bud played rhythm guitar with his brothers Tex and Zane in a band called "Tex Parker and the Wasatch Buckeroos," had a life-long passion for steam-powered tractors, and sawed in his mill every day until recently. With the arrival of his first grandchild, Mary, in 1961, Bud came to be called Grandpa. Mary was soon followed by Mark, Bret (Marcia) and Bradley (Jane) Timmins, Dylan (Heidi) and Jennifer Parker, Becky Parker, Samantha (Noel) and Roy (Mitchie) Olsen, Aleta and Amanda Parker, and three great-grandchildren, Alexis Parker, Isaac Alanis and Caleb Olsen. Bud is survived by his brothers Zane (Martha) and Smith (Ingrid) Parker, sisters Zepha (Richard) Boggess and Audrey Gustavason, and his dear friends Georgia Warr and Spot. Now, Bud is in the warm breezes that rustle the leaves, in the smell of newly cut wood and sawdust, and in the grass of a mountain meadow. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary, brothers Mariah, Cody and Tex, sister Ivy, and by the legions of dogs who called him friend. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Humane Society of Utah. A Celebration of Bud's life will be held Monday, March 20, 2006, 11 a.m. at Jenkins - Soffe South Valley, 1007 W. South Jordan Pkwy (10600 So.), where friends and family may call Sunday, March 19, 2006 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00-10:50 a.m. prior to the service. Burial will be in Granite Cemetery, Online Condolences may be sent to www.jenkins-soffe.com
Published in the Salt Lake Tribune from March 18 to March 19, 2006.