Andrew J. Parker

Andrew “Andy” Joseph Parker, age 37, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, April 10TH, at Reid Hospital. He was surrounded by his wife and his parents.

Andy was born August 8, 1982 to Richard Parker and Kathy (Bowling) Parker – the baby of the family.

Andy graduated from Centerville High School in 2000, and later graduated from the University of South Georgia with a degree in Sociology. While he hoped to use that degree to serve as a drug and alcohol counselor in the future, he had a love of big machines, and worked with several excavating companies.

For all who knew Andy, you know that his head was as hard as his heart was soft. So many have reached out to share stories of ways that Andy helped them – and they are heartwarming. Andy enjoyed almost any sport – both participating and watching – and got great pleasure from watching his nieces and nephews in their various sports. More than anything, he loved his family.

Andy is survived by his wife, Natali (Parra) Parker, his five-year-old stepdaughter, Emma, and his two-year-old daughter, Ella Jo. Also surviving are his parents, his sister Jenny and her husband Jon Tinkle, his brother Craig and his wife Amber (Coleman) Parker. He leaves to cherish his memory his nieces Haylee and Lizzie Parker, and his nephews Luke, Jake, and Nicholas Tinkle, and Eddie Parker. He leaves behind a very special childhood friend, Ben Gulde. He was preceded in death by another special childhood friend, Seth Stohler, as well as his beloved paternal grandparents, Richard and Rosemary Parker, and his maternal grandfather, Ron Bowling, from whom he inherited the hard head and soft heart. Surviving are his maternal grandmother, Carla Mazza, and his maternal step-grandmother, Katherine Bowling.

The family would like to thank the nursing and respiratory therapy staff in CCC at Reid for the kind and compassionate treatment they provided. Andy was well-loved in life by his family and friends, and will be so terribly missed. There is hope to host a celebration of life when that opportunity becomes available.

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