Funeral services for Alva J. Parker, 92, longtime area rancher, will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2008, at the First Baptist Church in Portales with Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister officiating.� Burial will be in the Floyd Cemetery with Wayne McAlister, Blake McAlister, Brady McAlister, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez and Quinn Parker serving as pallbearers. All of his many friends will be honorary pallbearers.� Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Floyd Cemetery Association.� The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 :00 until 8:00 PM.
Alva J. Parker was born October 16, 1916, in Upton, NM, to George and Eva Parker and died November 24, 2008, in Farmington, NM.� Alva and his brothers went to school at Floyd.� He served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and at Utah Beach.� He was still overseas on D-Day.� At the conclusion of the war, he returned to Roosevelt County.� Alva was married to Thelma Best on April 27, 1947.� Mr. Parker ranched on the mesa between Floyd and Ft. Sumner until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Parker served as a County Commissioner for five years and as a State Representative for 12 years.� He was also a delegate at the Constitutional Convention in 1969.� He was a very talented cowboy musician, and could pick up any musical instrument and play it, but the "fiddle" became his passion.� Alva was known as the "left-handed-fiddler" or as "Mesa Slim".� Even though he played only by ear, he won hundreds of fiddling contests.� He finished 7th in his class at the National Fiddling Contest in Weezer, ID.� In 1986, he was inducted into the NM Fiddlers Hall of Fame.�
Through the years, he played in several country western bands. While serving in the legislature, he formed a swing band, and named it "The House Cats."� Alva composed many waltzes, including one for every member of his immediate family.
After the death of his wife in 1999, Alva's health began to fail.� In 2002, he moved to Farmington with his daughter, Charlene.� Alva J. Parker was truly a Pioneer of the State of New Mexico and was a lover of the land of Roosevelt County.� He will be missed by all who knew him.� If you knew Alva J., you loved him!
He is survived by his daughter, Charlene Roberts and his son, Alan (Elizabeth) Parker both of Farmington, NM; nine grandchildren, Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister, Leah Broadway, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez, Quinn Parker, and Brittany and Shawna Parker; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Alfred Combs; his brothers, Harold, Charlie and Elward; his oldest daughter, Linda Lorraine McAlister; his son-in-law, Floyd McAlister; his in-laws, Red and Eula Best; and a brother-in-law, J. E. Cooper; as well as many other family members; and by his beloved wife, Thelma, who died September 14, 1999, after 52 years of marriage.
Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary, 575-356-4455.
Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 11/27/2008 - 11/28/2008
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Name Note: On the 1940 census and on Alva's WW II Draft Registration, his birthplace is listed as Oklahoma. However, the obituary states that he was born in Upton, New Mexico.
(You listed two papers with the obit. Here's a 3rd & 4th: The Daily Times. Farmington, New Mexico. November 29, 2008. The Albuquerue Journal, Jan 14, 2009.)
Alva J. Parker was born October 16, 1916, in Upton, NM, to George and Eva Parker and died November 24, 2008, in Farmington, NM.� Alva and his brothers went to school at Floyd.� He served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and at Utah Beach.� He was still overseas on D-Day.� At the conclusion of the war, he returned to Roosevelt County.� Alva was married to Thelma Best on April 27, 1947.� Mr. Parker ranched on the mesa between Floyd and Ft. Sumner until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Parker served as a County Commissioner for five years and as a State Representative for 12 years.� He was also a delegate at the Constitutional Convention in 1969.� He was a very talented cowboy musician, and could pick up any musical instrument and play it, but the "fiddle" became his passion.� Alva was known as the "left-handed-fiddler" or as "Mesa Slim".� Even though he played only by ear, he won hundreds of fiddling contests.� He finished 7th in his class at the National Fiddling Contest in Weezer, ID.� In 1986, he was inducted into the NM Fiddlers Hall of Fame.�
Through the years, he played in several country western bands. While serving in the legislature, he formed a swing band, and named it "The House Cats."� Alva composed many waltzes, including one for every member of his immediate family.
After the death of his wife in 1999, Alva's health began to fail.� In 2002, he moved to Farmington with his daughter, Charlene.� Alva J. Parker was truly a Pioneer of the State of New Mexico and was a lover of the land of Roosevelt County.� He will be missed by all who knew him.� If you knew Alva J., you loved him!
He is survived by his daughter, Charlene Roberts and his son, Alan (Elizabeth) Parker both of Farmington, NM; nine grandchildren, Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister, Leah Broadway, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez, Quinn Parker, and Brittany and Shawna Parker; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Alfred Combs; his brothers, Harold, Charlie and Elward; his oldest daughter, Linda Lorraine McAlister; his son-in-law, Floyd McAlister; his in-laws, Red and Eula Best; and a brother-in-law, J. E. Cooper; as well as many other family members; and by his beloved wife, Thelma, who died September 14, 1999, after 52 years of marriage.
Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary, 575-356-4455.
Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 11/27/2008 - 11/28/2008
----------------------------------
Name Note: On the 1940 census and on Alva's WW II Draft Registration, his birthplace is listed as Oklahoma. However, the obituary states that he was born in Upton, New Mexico.
(You listed two papers with the obit. Here's a 3rd & 4th: The Daily Times. Farmington, New Mexico. November 29, 2008. The Albuquerue Journal, Jan 14, 2009.)
Funeral services for Alva J. Parker, 92, longtime area rancher, will be 10:00 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2008, at the First Baptist Church in Portales with Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister officiating.� Burial will be in the Floyd Cemetery with Wayne McAlister, Blake McAlister, Brady McAlister, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez and Quinn Parker serving as pallbearers. All of his many friends will be honorary pallbearers.� Those desiring to make memorial contributions may send them to the Floyd Cemetery Association.� The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6 :00 until 8:00 PM.
Alva J. Parker was born October 16, 1916, in Upton, NM, to George and Eva Parker and died November 24, 2008, in Farmington, NM.� Alva and his brothers went to school at Floyd.� He served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and at Utah Beach.� He was still overseas on D-Day.� At the conclusion of the war, he returned to Roosevelt County.� Alva was married to Thelma Best on April 27, 1947.� Mr. Parker ranched on the mesa between Floyd and Ft. Sumner until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Parker served as a County Commissioner for five years and as a State Representative for 12 years.� He was also a delegate at the Constitutional Convention in 1969.� He was a very talented cowboy musician, and could pick up any musical instrument and play it, but the "fiddle" became his passion.� Alva was known as the "left-handed-fiddler" or as "Mesa Slim".� Even though he played only by ear, he won hundreds of fiddling contests.� He finished 7th in his class at the National Fiddling Contest in Weezer, ID.� In 1986, he was inducted into the NM Fiddlers Hall of Fame.�
Through the years, he played in several country western bands. While serving in the legislature, he formed a swing band, and named it "The House Cats."� Alva composed many waltzes, including one for every member of his immediate family.
After the death of his wife in 1999, Alva's health began to fail.� In 2002, he moved to Farmington with his daughter, Charlene.� Alva J. Parker was truly a Pioneer of the State of New Mexico and was a lover of the land of Roosevelt County.� He will be missed by all who knew him.� If you knew Alva J., you loved him!
He is survived by his daughter, Charlene Roberts and his son, Alan (Elizabeth) Parker both of Farmington, NM; nine grandchildren, Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister, Leah Broadway, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez, Quinn Parker, and Brittany and Shawna Parker; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Alfred Combs; his brothers, Harold, Charlie and Elward; his oldest daughter, Linda Lorraine McAlister; his son-in-law, Floyd McAlister; his in-laws, Red and Eula Best; and a brother-in-law, J. E. Cooper; as well as many other family members; and by his beloved wife, Thelma, who died September 14, 1999, after 52 years of marriage.
Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary, 575-356-4455.
Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 11/27/2008 - 11/28/2008
----------------------------------
Name Note: On the 1940 census and on Alva's WW II Draft Registration, his birthplace is listed as Oklahoma. However, the obituary states that he was born in Upton, New Mexico.
(You listed two papers with the obit. Here's a 3rd & 4th: The Daily Times. Farmington, New Mexico. November 29, 2008. The Albuquerue Journal, Jan 14, 2009.)
Alva J. Parker was born October 16, 1916, in Upton, NM, to George and Eva Parker and died November 24, 2008, in Farmington, NM.� Alva and his brothers went to school at Floyd.� He served in World War II and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and at Utah Beach.� He was still overseas on D-Day.� At the conclusion of the war, he returned to Roosevelt County.� Alva was married to Thelma Best on April 27, 1947.� Mr. Parker ranched on the mesa between Floyd and Ft. Sumner until his retirement in 2002.
Mr. Parker served as a County Commissioner for five years and as a State Representative for 12 years.� He was also a delegate at the Constitutional Convention in 1969.� He was a very talented cowboy musician, and could pick up any musical instrument and play it, but the "fiddle" became his passion.� Alva was known as the "left-handed-fiddler" or as "Mesa Slim".� Even though he played only by ear, he won hundreds of fiddling contests.� He finished 7th in his class at the National Fiddling Contest in Weezer, ID.� In 1986, he was inducted into the NM Fiddlers Hall of Fame.�
Through the years, he played in several country western bands. While serving in the legislature, he formed a swing band, and named it "The House Cats."� Alva composed many waltzes, including one for every member of his immediate family.
After the death of his wife in 1999, Alva's health began to fail.� In 2002, he moved to Farmington with his daughter, Charlene.� Alva J. Parker was truly a Pioneer of the State of New Mexico and was a lover of the land of Roosevelt County.� He will be missed by all who knew him.� If you knew Alva J., you loved him!
He is survived by his daughter, Charlene Roberts and his son, Alan (Elizabeth) Parker both of Farmington, NM; nine grandchildren, Wayne, Blake and Brady McAlister, Leah Broadway, John Reavis Purser, David J. Perez, Quinn Parker, and Brittany and Shawna Parker; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-father, Alfred Combs; his brothers, Harold, Charlie and Elward; his oldest daughter, Linda Lorraine McAlister; his son-in-law, Floyd McAlister; his in-laws, Red and Eula Best; and a brother-in-law, J. E. Cooper; as well as many other family members; and by his beloved wife, Thelma, who died September 14, 1999, after 52 years of marriage.
Arrangements by Wheeler Mortuary, 575-356-4455.
Published in the Clovis News Journal and the Portales News-Tribune from 11/27/2008 - 11/28/2008
----------------------------------
Name Note: On the 1940 census and on Alva's WW II Draft Registration, his birthplace is listed as Oklahoma. However, the obituary states that he was born in Upton, New Mexico.
(You listed two papers with the obit. Here's a 3rd & 4th: The Daily Times. Farmington, New Mexico. November 29, 2008. The Albuquerue Journal, Jan 14, 2009.)
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