Roger Merle Parker, 79, of Mexico, Missouri passed away peacefully on June 19, 2025 at 2:47 a.m. at Harry S. Truman V.A. Hospital in Columbia where he had been a patient since May 29th.
Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, at PICKERING FUNERAL HOME. Burial will follow in the Laddonia Cemetery. Rev. Dale Larison will be officiating the service.
Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of services on Monday, June 23, at PICKERING FUNERAL HOME.
Roger was born May 22, 1946 to Merle and Celeta Parker of Laddonia, MO. Roger graduated from Community R-VI High School with the class of 1964. He was active in band, basketball and baseball. Roger went to Hannibal LaGrange college for two years and completed his degree from the School of Agriculture at the University of Missouri. Roger married Barbara Dewey in Louisiana, MO on August 11, 1967. They enjoyed 57 happy years together.
Six months after graduation he was drafted in to the Army and served his country on the South China Sea in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. After returning from the service Roger worked for a year with his father in the cattle and grain hauling business. He then trained and worked for the USDA as a meat grader. Not long after, he joined the Missouri Department of Agriculture as a Livestock Market News Reporter, traveling to area sales to report the quality and quantity of livestock being sold. After 43 years with the Department of Agriculture, Roger retired in March of 2016. He was retired all of six days before he interviewed with Producers Livestock, Omaha, NE and then signed a contract as a commissioned part time fat cattle salesman selling to three major meat packing plants. He greatly loved quality corn fed cattle and assisting producers in their operations.
Roger enjoyed and loved people. He was a tease and nicknamed many kids, and oh, he had so many buddies. He enjoyed many years coaching baseball, basketball and serving and supporting the Audrain 4-H. He and Barbara loved to dance and play cards. They traveled on many group trips going to music shows and seeing the beautiful USA. Roger was an avid pheasant, quail and turkey hunter. He had many bird dogs over the years. Charlie, his German Shorthair Pointer who is now nearly 13 years old, he called his “second son”.
Roger was ordained as a deacon at First Baptist Church, Mexico, MO in April of 1983. He loved his Lord and served on various committees. The last two years he attended and was part of the church family at the Riding High Cowboy Church lead by Pastor Dale and Mary Ann Larison.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; daughter, Mary Suzanne (Brian Craig) Parker; son, Roger Lance (Lacey) Parker; grandchildren, Emmett Lance, Mason Luke, Lena Marie, Will Raymond and Noah Roger; brother-in-law, Richard (Christine) Dewey; sister-in-law, Charlotte Perrine; nephews, Michael (Heather) Wagner, Ryan (Crystal) Perrine, Andrew (Carrie) Perrine; nieces, Richelle (Steve) Trost, Karen (Dave) Anderson, Rexanne (Keith) Griffeth and Lora (Shawn) Ingram.
Roger was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Ellen Jane Wagner; father and mother-in-law, Allison and Helen Dewey.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Audrain County 4-H or Audrain Cattleman’s Association in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson St., Mexico, MO, 65265.
Online condolences may be left at www.arnoldfh.com.
