Elwood Parkes

Graveside services for Elwood Parkes will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery with Pastor Dan Morgan of the High Plains Community Church. Gillette Memorial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.Mr. Parkes, age 94, died at Pioneer Manor Nursing Home on Thursday, May 29, 2008. Walter Elwood Parkes was born at Debeque, Colorado on January 4, 1914 the son of Clerance E. and Cora (Noble) Parkes. Elwood went to high school in Grand Junction, Colorado and graduated in 1932. He met and married Zelma Jones on June 14, 1939. To this union one son, Lyle was born. Elwood was a cattle rancher at Debeque on Roan Creek for 40 years when he sold out to an oil company and went to work in the oil patch and moved to Wyoming. He met Monnie B. Wenger and was married in 1970. Elwood quit working in the oil patch and went to work for Flint Engineering until he retired in 1979. Monnie died in 1989 and Elwood renewed an old friendship with Ruth Lorrimer and they married on October 6, 1990. Elwood loved to do woodworking especially lazy susans. He made all the lazy susans in use at the Senior Center. Elwood helped his stepsons build and remodel their homes and worked for one of the local contractors in building homes after his retirement.Elwood is survived by his son, Lyle Parkes of Silt, Colorado; 2 granddaughters; step-daughters: Betty Jean Gazzolo and Edna Mae McGee both of Gillette, Wyoming; step-sons: Sam Wenger of Gillette, Wyoming and Bob Wenger of Devils Tower, Wyoming; step-daughter Kay Russell of Grand Junction, Colorado and 2 grandsons.He was preceded in death by his wives, Zelma, Monnie and Ruth.Memorials and condolences may be sent in Elwood's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or via the internet at www.stevensonwilson.com.