Tommy Joe Parks, 63, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011 at his home in Livingston, Texas after a short illness.

Tommy was born on April 26, 1948 in San Saba to Claude Houston Parks and Odessa Stewart Parks. He attended school in San Saba until 1957 when the family moved to Bay City, Texas. He graduated from Van Vleck High School then attended one year at Wharton Jr. College. He was a Viet Nam veteran with the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1970. Tommy worked and retired from Dow Chemical, then worked for Wal Mart until a short time before his death. He was a Baptist and loved hunting, fishing, camping, bird watching and gardening. Tommy and Donna Bump were married on February 3, 1979 in Bay City, Texas.

He is survived by his wife, Donna; three daughters, Dusty Quintanilla of Bay City, Sanea Granger of Mesquite and Lora Guzman of Bay City; three grandsons, Dylan, Kristian, and Colton of Bay City; one sister, Doris Cates of San Saba; two brothers, William Parks and wife Margie of Markham and Thurman Parks and wife Kay of Bay City; many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Clause Gerald Parks and two nephews.

Cochran Funeral Home, Livingston, Texas was in charge of cremation.