Gary Lee Parkhurst met his Lord and Savior Dec. 1, 2024. He passed away at his home in Mabank with his loving and devoted family by his side. He was born Feb. 22, 1940 in Wichita, Kan., to Lester Wayne and Janie Moss Parkhurst.  
Gary joined the Army in 1960 and was stationed in Schwabisch Hall, Germany after boot camp.  According to Gary, he was “sick as a dog” on the boat both to and from Germany.  
After his military service, through God’s providence, he found himself in Boswell, Okla., where he would meet the love of his life, Sylvia, at the First Baptist Church and after an eight month courtship, they married May 29, 1966.
He loved farm life and raising cattle, hogs, goat, sheep, rabbits, quail and chickens. He even got a Jersey cow for the grandkids to milk. He loved hunting and fishing, especially trotline fishing at Cedar Creek Lake. He always had a dog and had a garden.
He worked in construction for many years. Gary built cabinets, countertops and many new homes in the Mabank area. 
Thank you to Erica, Brandy, Angie, Hallie and Pam for taking loving care of my husband and our dad in his last days on this earth.
Gary attended church all his life “whenever the doors were open.” During his last years, Gary and Sylvia attended First Missionary Baptist Church, Mabank.  
As a teenager, Gary Parkhurst placed his faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins. As a result, today, he is “absent from the body, and… present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles Robert Parkhurst and sister Doris Jean Moore.  
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, daughters Julie Ann Key and husband Kyle and Joyce Janeen Lawless and husband Stephen, grandchildren Nathan Key, Emily Wise and husband Caleb Hollis and Caleb Key, great-grandson James Hollis Wise, sister Mary McNiel Hart, bother Michael Wayne Parkhurst and wife Charlotte, sister-in-law Carolyn Parkhurst Smith, nieces and nephews Tonya Burdett and husband Tony. Natalie Smith and husband Ricky, Renee Johnson and husband Tommy, Page Proffitt and husband Paul, Erin Davidson, Rod McNiel and wife Jo, Mark McNiel and wife Susan, Amy Massey and husband Don, Torrey Parkhurst, Amber White and husband Chris, lots of great-nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Nancy Goodwin and husband Donnie Goodwin and niece Jennifer Janeen Goodwin.
Graveside services were held at Eubank Cedar Creek Memorial Park with Military honors.