Edward M. Parton

Gladewater ~ Services for Edward M. Parton, 78, of Gladewater, Texas, will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. at Croley Funeral Home Chapel. Jerry Tant, of Matthews, NC, a beloved family friend, will officiate. Edward died on Sunday, May 24, 2015, in Gladewater, Texas. Edward M. Parton was born to Rease and Myrtle Parton in Grandfield, Oklahoma, on March 2, 1937, and held a bachelors degree from Abilene Christian College in Range Management. He served in the Texas Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Edward had a career as a landscape architect but also found time to pursue his passion for flying and worked as a pilot and flight instructor. Dedicated, life-long members of the church of Christ, Ed and Jane have made Gladewater their home for the past 30 years and are active members of the North Main congregation where Ed faithfully utilized his energy and talents to lead singing and serve in various seen and unseen capacities. Those who are left to cherish his memory are his devoted wife of 56 years, Jane (Shepperd) Parton; daughter, Lisa Holcomb and husband David of Sarasota, Florida; son, Bryan E. Parton of Fort Worth, Texas, along with 3 grandchildren, Erin Davenport and her husband Gary, Cole and Caitlin Parton; and 2 great grandchildren, Bradley and Ethan Davenport as well as numerous brother and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. Mr. Parton was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, William Daniel Parton of Grandfield, Oklahoma and Rease Leon Parton of Dallas, Texas. Visitation will be held at Croley Funeral Home on Friday, May 29, 2015, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his honor to Texas Home Health Hospice, American Cancer Society or the North Main Church of Christ in Gladewater, Texas.