Thomas Shannon Parkhurst, Ii

Tom, our beloved father, son, and brother, ended his courageous battle with cancer at his home in Meeker, Oklahoma on August 31, 2010 surrounded by loving family members. Tom was born on August 21, 1948 in Terre Haute, Indiana to Thomas S. Parkhurst and Lillian Irene (Pipes) Parkhurst. His Mom and best friend passed away on March 19, 2004. Survivors include loving father and his devoted and loving companion, Thomas Shannon Parkhurst and Margaret Criss of Prague; devoted daughter and son-in-law, Callie Jo and Kenneth Withrow of Bethel Acres; brother and sister-in-law, Jack Wesley and Kitty Parkhurst of Cleves, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Robert Dunbar of Modesto, CA; nephews and nieces, Clint and Gina Dunbar, Mike and Kim Dunbar, Shannon and Jerry Vesteen; numerous aunts, uncles, great nephews, a great niece, and many friends who will miss him greatly. Tom graduated from Upland High School and Chaffey Junior College located in Upland, California. He also attended Cal Poly located in Pomona, California. He was most passionate about baseball (both coaching and watching), photography, music, rodeos, the beach, Lane Frost, and horses. He loved to fish, play pool, spend time with family and friends, and his gifts for others were always unique and usually things he had made himself. He was a member of AQHA and APHA. Tom coached and managed baseball for many years at various age levels with his father, Tom Parkhurst. His brother Jack was always a part of the team. From 1969-1972, he coached the Upland Lions Little League Team and managed the Pomona First Federal Little League Team. In 1971 there was no coach for the Pop Warner Football Upland Chargers and so Tom agreed to be the coach. In 1972 he also coached the Security Pacific Pony League Team, and from 1973-1974 he managed the Upland Rugg Lumber Pony League team. In 1974-1976 he managed the J & T Electric Colt League Team and was the Assistant Coach (1974) for the Upland High School Baseball JV team. In 1976-1981 he managed the Upland MCI Thoroughbred team. Tom had an impressive 837 wins and 42 losses. In February 2010, one of his ball players threw a reunion party in Coach Tom’s honor in Huntington Beach, California. It was a wonderful tribute to a man who had touched their lives in remarkable ways. Each one brought their stories, memories, and details of games played some forty years ago. The game of life making the record books. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at 10:00 AM, at Parks Brothers Funeral Chapel in Prague with Rev. Starland Davis officiating. Interment will follow at the Prague Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Parks Brothers Funeral Service in Prague.