John Mark Parker
John Mark Parker was born November 9, 1964 in the Galveston County Hospital in Texas City, Texas to Bernard and Marceil Parker. He passed from this life on December 28, 2024. He is survived by his parents, Bernard and Marceil Parker, his brother Gregory Paul Parker (Nyuk Fong Loh Parker) and brother Jeffrey Scot Parker (Kerry Lyn Oliver Parker), nephews Kade Russell Parker ( Jordan Diaz-Parker), Leyton Stuart Parker, Kai Leonard Parker and Kelton Loh Parker.
Mark graduated from Clear Creek High School, League City, Texas in 1983 and from Abilene Christian University in 1988 with a teaching degree in Elementary Education. He taught elementary music in the Clear Creek School District for 30 years before retiring. He received a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake.
Mark’s first teaching job was in the Pasadena School District for a very short stay before coming back to the Clear Creek schools. He began at Whitcomb elementary in Clear Lake and taught there until he had the chance to open the music department at Falcon Pass Elementary. He stayed there until he was asked to do the same job at Robinson Elementary, where he spent the rest of his teaching career. He spent his days as a teacher and choir director for the schools he worked at. Mark was instrumental in helping to begin the Clear Creek ISD Children’s Honor Choir, which rehearsed in the summer to perform in the Clear Creek School District Imagination Celebration in the fall. One of his former colleagues noted that he was the “Pronouncer” for our school’s Spelling Bee. Yearly, he took the choir to sing in the Nassau Bay “Welcome to Santa Claus.”
One colleague said, ” He was a big part in our yearly talent show and led 2nd and 4th grade musicals each year. When a teacher or staff member retired, he helped write ‘memory books’ and a song. He wrote the school song that we still sing monthly at school character connections. Mark played a big part in Robinson Elementary becoming a National School of Character.”
Over Mark’s Junior High and High School years, he spent time developing Bible class curriculum and handouts for the kid’s classes at League City Church of Christ, some of which are still used today. He started teaching Bible class for kids at the old age of 12 years.
There are very few family members who did not benefit from Mark’s decoration skills at their weddings. Sometimes this included making center pieces for tables and center aisle decorations with hand-made bows and flower arrangements. At Christmas time, no one wanted to tear open packages wrapped by Mark because they were so beautiful. (One time the nephew’s packages were wrapped like a Santa suit with his black belt on a red suit.) Often his parent’s, brother’s and Sisters- in-law’s packages were adorned with hand-made bows worthy of the most fashionable magazines. Beautiful or not, we did eventually find the goodies inside.
Mark was a man whose quiet, gentle qualities easily brought him friends that lasted for a lifetime. He was thoughtful, caring, compassionate, creative and artistic. With these qualities he could have been successful in a number of fields but he chose the less than lucrative field of education because he loved children; and, not having any of his own, he chose the much larger number of the classroom to work with. After retiring from teaching, he reaffirmed the same priorities by choosing people-oriented activities over salary. He enjoyed meeting the people that rode in his car when he worked for Uber, several here today may have ridden with him. He then went to work for Cracker Barrel, working in the store where he could more readily interact with the guests that would come in. I’m sure if he recognized you there, he would have sought you out and given you a tour of the Cracker Barrel merchandise.
When I think about Mark, I am reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 14:7
For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.
Mark was an unassuming quiet helper who was willing to give of himself without looking for credit. We will miss you greatly.
A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 11:00am at League City Church of Christ, 1801 East Main, League City, Texas 77573 with Brother Ralph Bryant presiding.
Service will be live streamed at lccofc.org
I remember spending a lot of time with Mark and our youth group at League City church. He was funny and creative and always up for some fun. He loved deeply and his compassion was larger than himself. My condolences to the entire family he has left grieving, but I know you are also rejoicing that he has gone home to his reward.
With love to you all. —Rhonda Cook Davis
My daughter was blessed to have him as her music teacher all thru her Whitcomb days. I always remember the school plays and how much fun the kids had. He was awesome and started the love of music in her life. That love continued and she is now a junior high band director.
Mark and I were good friends at ACU. He was a gifted musician who had a beautiful voice. He will be missed.
I was pleased to be Mark’s choir director while he attended Abilene Christian University. It was truly an honor to teach him and to know him. It was a delight to walk beside him in the field of music education and to realize his impact on so many of his students.
I am so thankful he came my way and look forward to sing with him on that great day.
May God bless Bernard, Marceil and family as they mourn the loss of Mark, their wonderful son.
Milton Pullen Friday, 17 January 2025 11:55 a.m.
I knew Mark from the time he went to Abilene Christian University under the direction of Milton, my husband. Then as colleagues in the music field at Clear Creek ISD. I also knew him through the church and through his mother and dad, Marceil and Bernard. We always had a connection through music.
I remember when Mark invited me go to the Houston Grand Opera because he had an extra ticket. It was so generous of him to offer the ticket to me because he knew I would enjoy it.
Mark was creatively gifted and always had a gentle and kind spirit.
My heart grieves for the loss of Mark and for his family. May the Lord wrap His loving arms around them and give them strength and comfort.
Mark and I haven’t been around each other in a long time, but I’m glad I got to know him in the past. He was talented, friendly, kind, and fun to be with. I’m so sorry to hear of his passing and I wish peace and happy memories to all his family and friends. I’m so thankful for God’s promise of heaven.
(* We extend our condolences to all the family and friends of Mark. He obviously touched many with his special gifts and his giving personality. Blessings, Robert and Mira Jubela, Boerne)