Richard Marvin Parker, 86, of Independence, Mo. passed away on Wednesday, October 19, 2022. Funeral services will be at 12 p.m. Monday, October 24, 2022, at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, Mo. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until service time at the funeral home. Burial to follow in Buckner Hill Cemetery, Buckner, Mo. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Fort Osage Education Foundation.

Checks may be mailed to the foundation at 2101 N. Twyman Road, Independence, MO 64058. Or donations can be made online: foeducationfoundation.org ~ please include Richard’s name in the memo. Richard was born January 14, 1936. in Robinson, Kan. to Chester Norman and Anna Bertha (Kreuzburg) Parker. He was a basketball and baseball athlete at Highland Jr. College in Highland, Kan. Richard received his Bachelor’s Degree from Kansas State Teachers College. On August 21, 1960, Richard was united in marriage to Lois Mason. He began his teaching career at a country school in Denton, Kan. at the age of 19. Richard later moved to Washington, Kan. and taught school there until 1965.

He later moved to Buckner, Mo. in 1965 and taught and coached baseball, football, basketball, track and cross country at Fort Osage High School and Junior High. Richard was a member of Oak Grove Bible Church for 30 years. He was an avid outdoorsman, he loved to fish, hunt and garden. After his retirement he took up golf. Richard especially enjoyed watching his granddaughters in their activities.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois Parker, in 2014; brother, Gerald Parker; and sister, Marilyn Joan Adams. Richard is survived by his two children: son, Terry Parker (Kim) of Independence and daughter, Kim Phillips (Scott) of Blue Springs; five grandchildren: Samantha Parker (Eric) of Winter Garden, Fla., Paige Parker of West Jordan, Utah, Shayla Phillips of Blue Springs, Otizia Foster of Blue Springs, and Destinee Clark of Blue Springs. Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, 816-847-4441.