Mark David Parkman's Obituary
Mark Parkman Obituary
Mark David Parkman died on June 13th, 2022 in his home under hospice care. Mark was born on January 11, 1954 to Helen Elizabeth Parkman and Dr. James Edward Parkman in Jackson, Mississippi.
Mark grew up the second of four brothers in Clinton, Mississippi. His mother was a home economics teacher and artist, and his father was a track coach at Mississippi College. After his mother died, his father married Dorothy ”Dot” Murray and Mark gained three step-brothers and a step-sister. All of his many siblings enjoyed many holiday gatherings together.
Mark attended local schools in Clinton and graduated from Clinton High School in 1972. He then attended University of Southern Mississippi as a criminal justice major. While in College he began working as a police dispatcher for the Clinton Police Department, eventually becoming a patrolman. Once he graduated from college, Mark continued his pursuit of a career in law enforcement by going to work for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. After a few years as an ATF agent, Mark was recruited by the United States Secret Service. Mark specialized in fraud investigation and protection details as a Secret Service Agent.
Mark began his career with the secret service while President Jimmy Carter was in office and completed his career when George Bush, Jr was in office. He had assignments in Washington, DC, New York City, Charleston, South Carolina, West Virginia, Tulsa, Oklahoma and finally, Indianapolis, Indiana. He retired in 2004 as a Special Agent in Charge (SAC).
He then moved to Bixby, Oklahoma to start a second career as a terrorism analyst with the US Attorneys’ office. Once retired a second time, Mark did freelance private investigations and had just established Parkman Investigations when he had a stroke in 2015.
Mark was married in 1988 and had two children from this marriage, Kathryn Lindsey and Scott Conroy. Following his divorce, Mark was a single parent for several years.
In 2011, he met Deborah Gesin and they married in 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Mark and his wife Deborah enjoyed many trips to back to New Mexico. Exploring Santa Fe, visiting the Kitchen Store in Taos, and eating at the Tesuque Market were always the highlight of their visit.
Mark was known for his adventurous spirit. He enjoyed all things daring, from riding his Harley motorcycle, white water rafting, and scuba diving (which he also instructed). He enjoyed Cajun food, seafood and anything with coconut. He enjoyed shooting with his son, OU football, and speculating on the existence of BigFoot. His favorite book and movie was Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurty.
Mark enjoyed a good cigar and a rousing game of dominos. He spent countless hours at the Tobacco Pouch, partaking of both.
Mark was predeceased by: his mother, Helen Elizabeth Parkman (Martin), his father, Dr. James Edward Parkman, his stepmother, Dorothy Murray Parkman, and his cousin, Richard Booth.
Those left to mourn Mark are:
His best friend and wife, Deborah Gesin-Parkman, his nephew Liam Beason and his honorary sister and caregiver, Cindy Boston, and his devoted puppy Rosie, all with whom he shared a home. His daughter Kathryn Lindsey Parkman, his son Scott Conroy Parkman, his daughter-in-law Ashley Parkman, and his grandson, Eli James Parkman.
His siblings, James Parkman, JR., Bruce Parkman, Joel Parkman, Stan Murray, Steve Murray, Mark Murray, and Suzanne Damron, and his cousin, Philip Booth.
His in-laws, Joy Parkman, Debbie Murray, Linda Murray, Verna Murray, Bill Damron, Janis Booth, Ralph Gesin, Jacque Bernard, Allen Gesin, and Patty Gesin.
Numerous nieces and nephew.
His colleague and steadfast friend Rick Koch, along with many other friends and colleagues from law enforcement, and other friends he gathered along the way.
Mark’s Celebration of Life will be held on July 9th, 2022 at 1100 in the morning at Bixby Funeral Home at 13307 South Memorial Drive, Bixby, Oklahoma 74008.
“It ain’t dying I’m talking about. It’s living. I doubt it matters where you die, but it matters where you live.” spoken by Augustus McCrae, Lonesome Dove
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