Jimmy D Parks

Jimmy Dean Parks

Jimmy was born in Globe, Arizona on March 31, 1950, to Lola Lorene “Deanie” Lear and Junior Dean Parks.  He moved to Yuma, Arizona at the age of ten, later graduating Yuma High School class of 1968.  He met the love of his life, Judy (Grissom) Parks, and they made Yuma their forever home. They were married for 54 years, with her caring for him daily until he passed peacefully at their home April 8, 2025.

Jimmy joined the United States Navy where he served two tours on the USS Midway (CV-41) during the Vietnam war, serving six years in total. Upon returning he worked at Yuma Proving Grounds and later found his career with the Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division.  After 32 years of service, he retired as a Lieutenant over their Ports of Entry and Enforcement Officers in the Yuma area.

During the span of his life, he was surrounded by close friends he considered his family.  He shared his hobbies with them, including fishing, camping and hunting, always searching for elk, deer and javelina.  What he mostly found was time well spent with his honorary brothers and racking up funny stories to bring back home.  He also enjoyed hanging out with the animals at “the pens” but mostly enjoyed meeting up with those he loved who showed up there after work each day. 

He loved his family and was happy to be able to give them things he did not have the luxury of as he grew up. He was known for his lighthearted, easy-going personality, never sweating the small stuff and being a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle even to those not blood related that considered him family. 

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Judy Parks (Grissom); daughter Melissa Norred (Clint); son Jimmy Parks (Cindy); and his grandkids Jacob (Tori), Wyatt, Jocelyn, Emma, Andrew and Ralph, great grandson Jayce and his two sisters, Robyn Justice and Carolyn Swanner. He was preceded in death by his mother Lorene “Deanie” (Lear) Justice, father Junior Dean Parks, stepfather Riley Justice and brothers John “Johnny” Parks and Jerry Parks and his nephew John “John-John” Parks.

A memorial service will be held April 18th, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Yuma Mortuary located at 775 S 5th Avenue in Yuma.  In spite of battling many service-related issues in his final years, Jimmy loved the military and was proud to be a Vietnam Veteran.  And, as such, it is with great honor he will be calling the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, located in Cave Creek, Arizona, his final resting place.

 If you attend services, we ask that you not worry about dressing up but wear your best boots and Wranglers along with your best rodeo/western belt buckle as this is what he would have wanted.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jimmy D Parks, please visit our floral store.