Stephen W. Parks, age 74, departed this Earth on April 13, 2024 after a long battle with leukemia. Visitation will be from 6:00-8:00 PM on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri. Funeral service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 19, 2024 also at the Chapel. Burial will follow in the Englewood Cemetery in Clinton, Missouri. Memorial contributions can be made to the Kansas City Fisher House and may be left in care of the funeral home.

Steve, as he was better known as, was born on February 19, 1950 to William and Gloria Parks. He grew up in Clinton until his father’s untimely death brought the family to Sedalia, Missouri. Steve graduated from Smith-Cotton High School in 1967. This is where he met his best friend Jeffery Williams. Oh, the stories and jokes they could tell!

Steve met the love of his like, Deborah, in 1955. Both Deborah and Steve’s grandmothers were friends. Both grandmothers held a mock wedding where Debbie was the bride and Steve was the groom. They would tell people that they were betrothed before they even knew it. A few years later in 1967, they met again and fell in love. In May of 1968 Steve finished the U.S. Trade School and enlisted in the Navy. He started service in the fall of 1968, coming in as a Seabee and heading to Vietnam. After two years in the Navy he was honorably discharged and sent home.

In 1972, these lovebirds tied the knot and had two beautiful daughters, Tamie and Susan. Steve worked several jobs, mostly mechanical or automotive related, before starting his career at the Clinton Fire Department. His first day at the CFD was November 4, 1980. While working for the department, Steve served as fire prevention officer. He was busy in the month of October, visiting area schools, teaching fire safety and prevention. Steve worked hard to learn new ways to keep kids entertained while delivering safety messages, including attending the National Fire Academy in Emmetsburg, Maryland on Several occasions throughout his career. He was proud of this work and looked forward to it every year. He also loved Project Christmas Cheer. Due to hearing loss after 26 years of service, he retired from the CFD in 2005. Steve spent his retired years working on and off for others driving trucks and servicing farm machinery.

In his spare time, Steve loved fly fishing at Bennett Springs State Park. He loved to tie his own trout flies and had numerous fish mounted. Steve enjoyed catching rainbow trout while sporting a fish hat gifted to him by his brother. March 1st (opening day of Trout season) was a national holiday in his eyes. Steve would often say, “A bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work!”

Steve is preceded in death by his parents William and Gloria (Warnock) Parks, one brother Phillip Mikel (Mike) Parks, one sister Gail Jaynean Parks and a nephew Phillip W Parks, and his best friend Jeffery Williams.

Steve is survived by his wife of 52 years, Debbie, their daughters Tamie Gann (Jamie) of LaMonte, Missouri, Susan Kedigh (Arian) of Urich, Missouri, granddaughter Daphanie Watson (Andrew) of Richmond, Missouri, 4 grandchildren Brody, Emalee, Preslee, and Charlee, and his newest addition, great granddaughter Charlotte Isabelle Sue Watson.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton, Missouri.