James ( Jim) Edward Parker was born on July 29, 1929, in Burns, Oregon, to Joseph and Irene Parker. His family lived and worked in many rural areas of Oregon, Idaho and Nevada. He graduated from high school in Weiser, Idaho, where he participated in football and other sports. Jim was offered a scholarship to play football at Idaho State University, so he left home to fulfill his father's dream of getting a college education. Jim came from humble beginnings and felt far from prepared for college courses. He found college to be a huge challenge, but somehow persevered. The summer of 1949, just before Jim's junior year, he married Beverly Fisher and his daughter, Julie, was born a year later, in 1950. Jim's senior year of college he played football, attended classes, walked across town to work two jobs, and walked the floor with a colicky baby. After four years of football, and a short stint at collegiate boxing, Jim graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello, Idaho with a secondary teaching credential the spring of 1951. After graduating from ISU, Jim found a teaching job in Malta, Idaho. Jim coached and taught history there for one year. Next he moved his family to Twin Falls, Idaho, where he taught and coached football. It was in Twin Falls that he learned to play golf, which quickly became a passion he enjoyed for the rest of his life. After 4 years in Twin Falls, in 1956, Jim moved to Emmett, Idaho, where he taught history and coached football and developed a strong commitment for coaching basketball. His summers while at Emmett were spent in Moscow, Idaho, at University of Idaho. He completed his Master's Degree in Education in 1960. One more Idaho move was to Boise, for one year of teaching/coaching at a junior high and then he made the big decision to move to California. In 1961, Jim moved his family to California and began a 30 year career of teaching math and coaching football, basketball, and golf at Wasco High School. His son, Scott was born in 1962, and from a very young age Scott shared his father's love of basketball. Scott competed in many community, county and state basketball tournaments his entire childhood and was a standout player on his father's team in high school. Scott also played basketball at Porterville College. Jim and Beverly divorced in 1970. Jim was known as a tough disciplinarian and a demanding coach, particularly in basketball where he had many successful seasons and championship teams. He was inducted into the Wasco High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2012. After dating for 14 years, Jim married Joan Scarborough Watson in 1993. After retiring from Wasco High in 1993, Jim coached several basketball teams at Alpah High school and worked at a golf shop in Bakersfield, where he repaired and made clubs. Jim continued to work in his "golf shop" at home on club repairs for friends and family. He continued to enjoy playing golf well into his 80's. Jim died of a heart attack on Friday, January 17, 2014. It's a bit ironic because Jim had a big heart and seemed much younger than his years. He was 84 years young. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Joan. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Ann Craig, and her husband, Michael Craig and their two daughters, Amber Craig and Brenna Craig, and his son Scott Reo Parker and his son, Benjamin John Parker. Jim was a beloved brother and uncle to Jerel Parker, and sisters Emma Davis, June Poole and their children and grandchildren A gravesite ceremony will take place in the Wasco Cemetery on Friday, January 24, 2014 at 10:00 a.m.