Funeral services for Retired Police Chief Carson Parks, age 81 of Carthage, Texas will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday October 17, 2006 at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Dock Lazarine and Brother Calvin Hancock officiating. A Masonic graveside service will follow in Patroon Cemetery in Shelby County under the auspices of the Carthage Masonic Lodge # 521 A.F. & A.M. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home. Chief Parks passed away on Saturday morning, October 14, 2006 in Carthage.

Carson Newman Parks was born in Kizer, Tennessee on November 19, 1924. He was the son of Edgar Haskel and Florence Bivens Parks. Mr. Parks served his country during World War II as a merchant marine. He married Beatrice Goodwyn on February 1, 1952 in Liberty County, Texas. Mr. Parks became a Town Marshall in Griffin Park, Texas in 1950. He then went on to serve as a deputy sheriff in Jefferson County, Texas. He was appointed a Special Texas Ranger and later became the Chief of Police in Vidor, Texas. Mr. Parks became Carthage's Chief of Police in 1970 until his retirement in 1993. He was a member of the East Texas Peace Officers Association for over 50 years and was a past President of the Kilgore Police Academy where he served on their board until his death. He was a member of the Carthage Masonic Lodge # 521 A.F. & A.M. receiving his 50 year pin. He was also a member of the Sharon Temple Shrine. Chief Parks was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church of Clayton. Chief Parks was preceded in death by his parents, four sisters and three brothers.

Chief Parks is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beatrice Parks of Carthage; two sons, Edward "Tex" Parks and wife Donnette of Clayton, Wade "Little Tex" Parks and wife Carole of Carthage; five grandchildren, Chad Parks and wife Debbie of Clayton, Sunny Britt and husband Jamie of Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, Jesse Parks, Jimmy Parks and Samantha Parks all of Carthage; eight great-grandchildren; seven nephews; Butch, Preston, Robert, Larry, and Phillip Parks all of Port Arthur, Texas, Gary Parks of Lenoir City, Tennessee, and Gene Hyde of North Carolina; five nieces, Carol, Darlene, Shirley, Debbie, and Marline of Lenoir, Tennessee; numerous other relatives also survive

Serving as pallbearers are Jack Ellett, David Jeter, Byron McMillan, Duane Baushke, Jim Vanonver, and Robert Duncan. Serving as honorary pallbearers are all law enforcement officers.

If desired, memorials may be made to The East Texas Police Academy, c/o Kilgore College, 1100 Broadway Boulevard, Kilgore, Texas 75662.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.