Obituary of Kerry Parker

BELFAST Kerry Parker, 56, of Belfast died unexpectedly in his sleep the morning of August 1, 2015 following a three year battle with cancer. Kerry was born on August 16, 1958 in Camden, Maine. He was the second of four sons of Ernest and Constance Parker. Kerry grew up in Northport, Maine where he, his friends and his three brothers, Keith, Kent, and Kim, collectively referred to as “the boys from Northport”, caused their fair share of good-natured mischief. It was here that Kerry developed a love of the Maine woods and its wildlife, spending nearly all of his spare time hunting, fishing, boating and camping - pursuits that he continued to love and share with others for the rest of his days. Kerry was a graduate of Belfast Area High School, class of 1976. After graduation he married the love of his life, Dianne (Young) Parker and worked for many years for the Highway Department of the City of Belfast. Kerry had a hobby of woodworking which later blossomed into his own furniture repair and refinishing business, Parker's Furniture. Kerry became skilled at his trade and drew work from not only the state of Maine, but throughout the eastern U.S. After 15 years, Kerry tired of the chemicals and late hours stripping furniture. He began working on developing and eventually patenting a waterproof storage box and cooler that fits into the bow or stern of a canoe, aptly titled the “Bow/Stern Canoe Box” or “B.S. Box” for short. While pursuing this dream, he went to work as a carpenter where he also found success until he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Kerry loved to help those around him. He was always willing to lend a hand to a friend in need, whether with timely (and often humorous) advice, pulling their car out of mud or snow, or by driving his generator door to door after an ice storm in order to keep the food in their freezers from spoiling; he was never more than a phone call away. Kerry was actively involved with the Boy Scouts of America for many years, even after he saw his son Jason become an Eagle Scout. Kerry met many of his best friends through scouting and thoroughly enjoyed passing on his knowledge of the outdoors to the next generation. Kerry also volunteered his time with the Waldo County Search and Rescue, spending many hours in training and on searches for people lost in the Maine woods. Kerry is survived by Dianne, his loving wife of 37 years, his son Jason and wife Christy of Pawling, New York, his daughter Samantha and fiancé Alex DeForest of Chandler, Arizona, as well as parents Ernest and Connie, brothers Keith, Kent, and Kim, and grandmother Vernette Robarts of Camden as well as other family and cherished friends. A viewing will be held at Riposta Funeral Home on Tuesday, August 4 from 6-8 pm. A memorial will be held Wednesday, August 5, at 1 pm. Please join Kerry's family for a luncheon reception to reflect on, listen and share fun and memorable stories as we pay tribute to Kerry at Young's Lobster Pound in Belfast immediately following the service. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waldo County Search and Rescue, 45A Congress Street, Belfast, Maine 04915.