Parker Franklin Rankin

Parker was born in Baylor Hospital and lived in Kemp, TX most of his life. He graduated from Kemp High School in 2006, and

had a love for FFA and high school rodeo. Upon graduating high school, he attended and graduated from Wyotech, in Laramie,

Wyoming. After graduation, he worked as a diesel mechanic for a few years before returning to his passion in life, farming and ranching, where he worked until his untimely death.

Parker had a profound love for the outdoors. He spent most of his adolescent years exploring, hunting and fishing along the banks of Cedar Creek Lake on his red four-wheeler that he all but "ran it till the wheels fell off". He didn't learn about nature by reading it in a book, but by living along side it.

Parker also had a love for farming and ranching, more specifically, raising cows and baling hay. Many times throughout my life when I tell someone that I farm and ranch, their response is usually something along the lines of, "Oh that's a lot of hard work" or "I remember those days, and I don't miss them". However, as Marc Anthony said, "If you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life". To be around Parker when he was working with cows or baling hay, you would think he was having the time of his life and not working a single bit.

Parker's greatest love in life was held for his family. He loved family events and often couldn't wait until the next one was held. Just this past Christmas, we had a few members of our family exposed to Covid, so we weren't able to have our big family Christmas. Parker called me a few days before and insisted that we had to do something together, no matter how small it was.

More than anything, he loved the children in his family. He was never hesitant to snatch up the newest family member born and hold them in his arms. It is said that, "A son is the pride of his father, but his heart belongs to his little girl", and Parker was no exception to that saying. He loved his daughter Savannah with all of his heart.

As I write this, I realize that it is impossible for me to list everyone he loved. His daughter, mom and dad, brother, niece, aunts, uncles, cousins and a long list of friends are all people that he held dear to his heart. It's more than ironic that someone with a medically weak heart could have such a big and caring one.

Parker is preceded in death by his grandparents, Barbara and Glenn Rankin and Louis and Shirley Rodriguez; his aunt, Cheryl Hinds; his uncles, Jerry Thompson and Bryan Rodriguez. Parker is survived by his daughter, Savannah Rankin, parents, Mike and Sharron Rankin, brothers, Mikie Rankin and BJ Rider, niece, Harper Rankin, nephew, RJ Rider, and a long list of aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends whom he considered family.

As hard as today may be for us, we ask that you not mourn him here today. Instead, rejoice. Rejoice a life well lived. If you only keep once piece of Parker with you when you leave here today, I ask that it be this: Live your life to the fullest, laugh whenever possible, love with all your heart, and seek God in all that you do.