Donald Leland Parks, age 89, went home to be with Jesus (based on his profession of faith) on Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at Charter Senior Living of Davison. Visitation will be at Allen Funeral Home, 9136 Davison Road, Davison on Saturday, August 10, 2024 from 3-7 PM and Sunday, August 11, 2024 from 12-7 PM. The family will also receive visitors at the church on Monday, August 12, 2024 from 10 AM until the time of service. Funeral service will be conducted at First Baptist Church, 208 E. Fourth Street in Davison at 11 AM, Monday, August 12, 2024 with Donald’s grandson, Chaplain Justin Ellsworth, officiating. Burial will be in Davison Cemetery on Potter Road, where he will be laid to rest near his granddaughter.
Donald, “Don,” was born July 7, 1935, to the late Leland and Virginia (Sublette) Parks in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Kearsley High School in 1953, and began work as an auto mechanic, eventually ending up at Uptegraff Chevrolet in Davison where he (by circuitous means) met Irma Catherine Hershberger, who would also come to work there. They married on February 18, 1955, because as he put it, “I won her in a raffle, and they wouldn’t take her back!” Very soon after that they settled in downtown Davison and he began planning and building their marital home, every nail driven with love for his new wife. As children came along, he eventually bought, then later sold, a Mobil gas station along State Road, operating two repair bays for a number of years. With more mouths to feed, he then sold the station and began selling New York Life Insurance. In 1966 he was first appointed, then elected, as Davison Township Treasurer. In 1970 he was elected Township Supervisor, in which position he served until his retirement in 2000, winning every election throughout that time. Once retired he continued to golf some, build and fly radio-controlled airplanes even more, and developed an even more enthusiastic hobby of fishing on the Great Lakes in his succession of boats, all cardinal-emblazoned and named “Dunwurkin.” The grandchildren were consistently instructed not to tell Grandma how much his fishing lures and supplies cost! Don loved and served his community well, often at his expense, giving up evening hours away from his family for after-hours meetings and the barrage of calls from local residents to his home. He is remembered to have been consistently honest and gracious to everyone, with the heart of a servant. He was so proud of all his achievements and though he wished to include them here in his obituary, the family has elected instead to print the two-page list and have them displayed at the funeral home during visitation hours. But a few of these accomplishments stand out, especially to his children. In the mid-1960s he instituted the Don Parks Youth Day. This event would occur where the Davison City Hall and Genesee County Library Davison Branch now stand. Contests included greased-pole climbing, pie-eating, chicken chasing (yes, the winners took those poor chickens home!), greased pig chasing, and the favorite: tug-of-war over a huge mud pit. The Davison Fire Department was onsite and available to hose the hapless children off with the fire hoses after it was over. Another of his proudest achievements was the drive to bring 911 services to the county, earning him the moniker “Mr. 911.” Don was also an instigator of practical jokes, even on his “good/best friends.” Some of these pranks may have included the police (knowingly, of course), “official” government stationary, etc.
Don leaves to cherish his memory Irma (Hershberger) Parks, his beloved wife of 69 years, children Gary (Patty) Parks, Ann Ellsworth-Parks, Sue Johns, Nancy Parks, Steve (Marty) Parks, Alan (Jutta) Parks, Laura (Eric) Johns, and Carmen (David) Holm, 19 grandchildren and their spouses, and 21 great-grandchildren. Also his sister, Juanita Dickinson, many nieces, nephews and other beloved extended family and friends. Don was preceded in death by his parents, Leland and Virginia, his second mother, Eleanor (McKinnon) Parks, sisters Nancy Thomas, Janice Gilson, and Marcia Fortner, son-in-law Brad Johns, granddaughter, Lydia Parks, brother “Mac” McKinnon and sister Judy Whalen.
The family wishes to especially thank the staffs of Charter Senior Living of Davison, and the CareLine medical and Hospice Teams for their thoughtful care during his last months.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church of Davison in Don’s memory.
P.S. If there are any victims of his practical jokes left out there, his family most sincerely apologizes!
Please share your thoughts with the family at www.allenfuneralhomeinc.com.
