Mr. Emzie Parker, Jr., age 80 and a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, left for Heaven suddenly on Sunday morning, December 31, 2006 from St. John Medical Center.

Truly a man of great spirit for all seasons, Emzie Parker, Jr., arrived in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on June 16, 1926. Emzie moved to Tulsa after his first marriage to C. Lorene Perkins in 1946. This union would produce four children; Paulette, Marcy, Emzie III and Keri Lynn.

He never liked being the center of attention, but he had a great ability to bring people together and impart welcomeness to each and every one. As an avid worker in the community, he contributed much of his time to his church, Pine Street Christian Church. He was baptized there in January of 1949.

As a young husband and father, he became an active member in the Amity Lodge #236. He took pride in community building in North Tulsa and bridging the gap with the rest of Tulsa. In the early 1960's, as one of the first Black Men to break the "colorline" of the Meat Cutters Union in Oklahoma, his actions helped to open the doors of the union to Blacks. Amidst many threats, he regularly attended local union meetings and courageously asserted his rights. His willingness to put himself "on the line" and encouraged other black workers skilled in the profession to join. Throughout his life, Emzie encouraged and mentored many young people to live productive lives.

In the late 1970's, Emzie and Lorene began a small catering business that would continue for over thirty years. The reputation of Emzie's party planning along with the delicious recipes prepared by his wife Lorene, the business became a seasonal and holiday favorite among many local organizations and others throughout the Tulsa community.

As a long-time employee of Southern Hills Country Club, in the late 1980's, he made friends easily and became well known and loved by all, members and co-workers included. Life-long friendships and associations were formed and continued to present.

In 1993, the loss of his beloved Lorene would leave him widowed for more than ten years.

While attending a class reunion in Okmulgee, he became reacquainted with Lois D. Wilson, a classmate he had known since kindergarten. A friendship that soon turned into much ended up with Emzie and Lois uniting in marriage on April 11, 2002, remaining so until his death.

Emzie was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Lorene, his daughter, Marcy Ellen Wilson and his only son, Emzie III.

Remaining to lament his passing; his loving wife, Lois; his daughters, Paulette Parker, Toyko, Japan and Keri Parker-Wells, Santa Barbar, California; his grandsons, Devyn Wilson, Delano Wilson, Brett Parker Wilson and Emzie Parker IV; his great-grandsons, Devyn Lamont, DeVon Alexander, Desmond Maurice; one great-granddaughter, Shayanne Lorene; and an army of loving friends and other relatives.

The final farewell and celebration will be on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. in the Pine Street Christian Church. Burial will follow in Crown Hill Cemetery.

You may visit Mr. Parker,as he slumbers at the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., on Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM.