Roger Allen Parsley

Early in the morning of Sunday, January 24, 2021 Roger Allen Parsley lost his long, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Roger was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Roger was an incredible man – hard-working, honest, loyal, intelligent, and resourceful – just the type of man the world needs more of. Roger was born November 4, 1935 to Frank and Hattie (Seawright) Parsley in Crowell, Texas. He grew up in Fort Worth, Texas and near-by Arlington, Texas, where he graduated from Arlington High School in 1953. Before graduating high school and during the Korean War, Roger enlisted in the Naval Reserve. After graduation, Roger spent four years in the active-duty Navy, serving aboard several destroyers in the south Pacific and in the Pacific northwest, including his beloved McCoy Reynolds, DE-1048. During his active duty, Roger achieved the rank of Petty Officer, First Class, and had a lifetime of funny stories that each generation of Parsleys loved to hear (and with it, a great slide show). After active service, Roger enlisted in the Naval Reserve for an additional four years. In 1960, Roger met the love of his life, Karen Joyce Kammerzell. Roger fell in love at first sight with Karen and her deep, dark brown eyes, “the most beautiful (he) had ever seen”. After their very first date, Karen immediately knew that “this is a man I can depend upon”. Roger and Karen were married on October 21, 1960 and celebrated 60 years of marriage this past October. Roger graduated with a BA from Arlington State College (now University of Texas at Arlington) in 1964. In 1967, Roger began a long and successful 25-year career at General Dynamics, retiring in 1992 as Chief of the Asset Management Department. Roger loved the outdoors, camping, boating, fishing, and traveling with family. He loved telling the same old jokes year after year (while still somehow finding a way to make them funny). He loved working with his hands and could fix practically anything, whether automotive, plumbing, electrical, absolutely ANYTHING mechanical. Roger and Karen took on one of their biggest challenges when they built a new home on acreage outside Georgetown, Texas in the beautiful, rugged Texas Hill Country. Together, Roger and Karen built several buildings and structures from the ground up, including all the plumbing and electrical, a source of enormous pride for both. Roger loved working with his hands, but also loved to get away and see the world, whether traveling to Port Aransas on annual deep see fishing adventures, driving cross-country to the mountains of Colorado or to the west coast of California (with family shoved into a 1972 Datsun B-210 hatchback) or later by traveling in luxury via cruise ship with his beloved wife, friends and family, including brother Michael and sister-in-law JoAnn. Roger was a good and loyal friend to many, maintaining lifelong friendships (75+ years) with several boys from the old neighborhood on Morningside Drive in Fort Worth and making many new friends in his golden years at the local YMCA. More than anything, Roger loved FAMILY. There has never been a better role model for his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Roger was always there for family, and was a true patriarch, a rock and a foundation for the entire family. He will be missed by every member of the clan, but will always be with each, in heart and in spirit. Each of the family is truly a better person because of Roger. Roger was preceded in death by his father, Frank, his mother Hattie, and his sister Frankie Jo. Roger is survived by his loving wife, Karen; his three children, son Kenneth and his wife Isabelle, son Anthony and his wife Delores, daughter Lisa and her husband Kurt; six grandchildren Valerie, Kevin, Melissa, Michael, Brittany, and Zachary; six great grandchildren; and by his brother, Michael, and his wife JoAnn; numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Roger was an incredibly strong man, battling until the end, fighting for his life and his family. He will always be remembered for his kindness, and for that big, warm smile, and for being our guiding light, a light that can never be extinguished in our hearts nor in our minds. Due to COVID restrictions, a small, private ceremony will be held at the National Cemetery in Grand Prairie, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roger's name to www.pancan.org/honormemorial-gifts/ Wade Family Funeral Home & Crematory 817-274-9233