just scott

Text Edition

My parents got divorced when I was in high school, and my mother started a singles class at church (she was always active in the community like that). 

She met this “good ole boy” kind of man. Well loved and respected in the community. He’d been a teacher and a coach for 30 years. Everybody loved him. He seemed a little “countryfied” to me.

Many people called him Coach Parker. We all always called him Mr. Parker. It would eventually become our term of endearment for him. He is still Mr. Parker to this day.

He was a good influence on me, although at the time I really didn’t feel it.

He knew how to administer tough love. He would always lend a hand, but there was always a lesson in there somewhere.

He was tough, but fair, and he had a lot of love for those around him.

I’ve lost touch with him, since he’s remarried twice since my mother died.

My mother was his second wife (he had 5 kids before). His third wife died of cancer several years after they married. I think he is still married to his fourth wife… 

We don’t talk anymore, or stay in touch. I think he’s kind of lost his mind, just a little. He called me once, and I really couldn’t understand what all he was talking about… but, he knows I love him, and appreciate all he did for me.

So, cheers to Mr. Parker. A good man. He had a positive influence on MANY people over the years.