Larry Duane Parke, 81, of Twin Falls passed away on Saturday Nov. 29, 2008, at his home after a long battle with cancer.
Larry was born on May 17, 1927, in a farmhouse in Jerome County, Idaho, to Rula and Dale Houston. At the age of 4 he went to live with his paternal grandparents, Frank and Daisy Houston. He started elementary school in Jerome, and finished third grade there. He then moved to Hailey, Idaho, to live with his mother and her new husband, Hail Parke. He was adopted by Hail Parke in 1941 at the age of 14.
Larry graduated from Hailey High School in 1945, after which he joined the U.S. Navy. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1946. He became a miner and worked for the Triumph Mine, and also worked for his father-in-law, Grover Crocker, in mines in the Lost and Wood River valleys. On May 1, 1947, he married his high school sweetheart, Faye Crocker in Hailey, Idaho. Together they had a son, Larry Dennis, in 1948 and a daughter Vicky Lynn in 1951. He moved his family to California in 1953 where they lived for seven years before moving back to Idaho to run a rental business in Idaho Falls in 1960. Larry then went to work at the Idaho National Laboratory in 1966 until his retirement in 1989.
Larry and Faye divorced in 1974, and in 1975 he married Betty Murri, inheriting four stepchildren, Brett Murri, Blake Murri, Brice Murri and Brenda Murri. In 2001 he moved to Twin Falls to be near his 90-year-old stepmother and sister.
Larry was involved in Little League Baseball for nearly 20 years, spending the last few years as president of the league. He was an avid golfer, hunter, fisherman and card player. He liked to be active all the time. He was the Rock of Gibralter for his family and was much loved by all.
He is survived by his son, Larry Dennis (Vicky Lee) of Boise; his daughter, Vicky Lynn Davis of Twin Falls; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; four stepchildren, Brett (Lynette) Murri, Blake (Janiece) Murri, Brice (Debbie) Murri, Brenda (David) Vago; and 13 step-grandchildren. He is also survived by three nephews, Lowell Bingham, Gary Bingham, and Mike Chavez. Also surviving him is his loving, loyal and doting companion of five years, Ora Deahl.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Geri Kimzey, both of his wives and his stepmother, Evelyn Parke.
Memorial services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 2 p.m. at White Mortuary "Chapel by the Park" in Twin Falls.
