Charles Parker

MISSOULA - Charles D. Parker, husband, father, teacher, river runner, smokejumper, wilderness lover and boat builder passed away peacefully Wednesday, December. 10, 2008.





Charles, a fourth generation Montanan, was born in Missoula on August. 22, 1924, at the Thornton Hospital, present site of Missoula Public Library. He was raised by his father, John Ray Parker, and mother, Matilda Caroline Dickman Parker. They moved to East Helena for a time when his father worked as yard bull for the Northern Pacific. Moving back to Missoula, Charles attended Prescott grade school, and Missoula County High School, now Hellgate.





While still in grade school, Charles started working for Ed Geary, who was the fire chief for the Missoula Ranger District. During and after high school, he worked trail maintenance, helping to pack into the national forest lands, fight fires and man the lookout at Blue Mountain. While living on the lower Rattlesnake, he met his future bride, Jean Bessire.





After attending one year at Montana State University, now University of Montana, Charles joined the Merchant Marines. His military service took him to Europe where he served in several locations. After serving in different capacities, including Harbor Craft boat commander and platoon leader, Charles volunteered for the infantry in 1945, and was moved back to the states for reassignment to the Pacific. He was honorably discharged as a captain.





Charles resumed his college education at Montana State University in 1947, working as a smokejumper in the summers of 1947 and 1949. On August. 5, 1949, Charles narrowly missed being called out on the Mann Gulch fire.





Charles finally convinced Jean to marry him, and they were married September. 2, 1949. Their honeymoon was spent on a pack trip into the Bob Marshal Wilderness traveling up the North Fork of the Blackfoot, across to the Danaher, and out at Monture Creek. The experience affirmed a life enjoyment of wilderness.





After graduating from the Montana State University, Charles and Jean moved to Iowa where he worked with Professor Earl Schubert and others and received his Ph.D. from the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at the State University of Iowa in 1953. He was on staff at the University of Iowa for four years, until he was persuaded to return to Missoula in 1957 to help found the new Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology at Montana State University. Charles devoted several decades to teaching, mentoring grad students, and running a clinic which helped provide speech and hearing services throughout Montana.





Charles was an active hunter, skier, canoer and back packer. He was with the first group to kayak down the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in 1971. The fact that he never really learned to roll resulted in lots of bruises and swimming, but didn’t deter him. For Chuck and Jean’s 50th wedding anniversary, they talked Smoke Elser into taking the extended family back into the Bob to celebrate.





After retiring, Chuck began repairing and building wooden canoes. He volunteered his time for issues that concerned him, including serving as chairman of Missoula Aging Services.





Charles was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn Parker; and his parents.





He is survived by his wife; his brother, Raymond Parker of Missoula; children and spouses, Doug Parker and Toneybeth Clark of Missoula, Grant Parker and Molly Galusha of Missoula, Meg Parker and Mark Johnstad of Bozeman; grandchildren Matt, Jackson and Cooper. Other relatives include brother Raymond’s family, Marilyn Parker, Linda Parker and Fred, Sari and Craig Lerch, Diana Parker and Ron Powell.





You may honor his memory by getting outside to ski, canoe, kayak and hike or support your favorite conservation organization.





A private wake and remembrance will be scheduled. Contact family members for information.

Read Charles Parker's Obituary and Guestbook.