Sermon Tone Analysis

Welcome

On behalf of our family I want to welcome you and say thank you for being here today.

Few things said today will be remembered.

You may not recall the songs sung, or the stories shared, but the memory that will last and be cherished is that many of the people that loved Keith, and people that Keith loved showed up here today to mourn his loss and honor his life.

We came together to console his family and comfort one another.

Again thank you and welcome.

I would like to, at this time ask anyone that is currently serving in the United States military or has served, to stand and let us recognize you on this Veteran’s Day.

Although Keith didn’t serve, he always had an appreciation and respect for those that have.

Thank you, and you may be seated.

Prayer

Father as we gather today to mourn the loss of Keith, we offer thanks for a life well lived.

Lord, we thank you for the gift of the time he spent with each of us as a friend, a family member as a father and as a companion.

Lord, we ask for the Holy Spirit to fill this place so that He may comfort us to mourn, not as unbelievers without hope, but as believers in Christ carrying with us the hope of His resurrection.

Amen.

Song

Obituary

Michael Keith Parker, son of the late Henry Parker and Nadine (Pounds) Parker was born November 3, 1952 in Paragould, Arkansas and departed this life on November 4, 2021 at the age of 69 years.

Keith married Debbie Sutton February 11, 1994 in Kennett, Missouri.

Survivors include:

His wife: Debbie Parker of Ft.

Myers, Florida

Three sons: Michael (Courtney Lieti) Parker of Naples, Florida

Michael Chandler of Atlanta, Georgia

Todd (Martye) Nelson of Jonesboro, Arkansas

Daughter: Annell (Jason) Kilpatrick of Benton, Louisiana

One brother: Charles (Phyllis) Parker of Senath, Missouri

Four grandchildren: Katie (Kain) Smith, Sara and Lily Kilpatrick and Jordon (Kaylyn Short) Nelson

Three great grandchildren: Nora Smith, Lincoln Smith and Elena Nelson

Other relatives and many friends.

Keith was preceded in death by his  sister: Barbara Wheeler and her husband Jeff Wheeler and infant sister Brenda Parker

Keith was of Ft.

Myers, Florida formerly of Kennett, Missouri and passed away in Ft.

Myers, Florida.

Poem - Annell Kilpatrick

Song 2

Eulogy

The shortest verse in the Bible is found in the 11 th chapter of John.

It is in the story of Jesus raising Lazarus (brother of Martha and Mary).

Jesus had been told that Lazarus was sick and He intentionally stayed away.

After Lazarus had passed, Jesus told His disciples they were going to him and he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead.

We are told that Jesus came to the place where Lazarus was Mary approached the Lord and fell down at his feet weeping and the Jews that were comforting Martha and Mary were weeping.

We are told that

Jesus was deeply moved in spirit.

He asked where that had laid him and they said come and see.

Then

in verse 35 two simple words….Jesus Wept.

2 Reasons Jesus Wept.

I believe there are two reasons that the Son of Man was weeping.

1.

Even though He knew what he was about to do….In that moment He felt the loss of His friend Lazarus.

2. He saw the pain that Lazarus’ death had on the people that loved him.

And with a broken heart He wept.

This afternoon we weep.

We weep because we feel the pain of the loss of Keith, and we weep because the people we love are hurting and our hearts are broken, and we weep.

But that isn’t the end of the story

Less than 10 verses after we are told that Jesus wept, Jesus said “Lazarus, come forth.”

We may weep, but we are not without hope because Jesus said,

As we mourn Keith’s loss and celebrate his life through both laughs and tears, know this…..We are going

to be OK.

All of us.

See Jesus told His disciples in

He’s got this.

And as Keith so often said, “The show much go on.”

Michael Keith Parker, Keith, KP, Parker, Daddy, Dad, Poppa K. Uncle Keith.......WOW!!!!

There is so much I could say,

and a few things I shouldn’t, but might anyway!

Regardless, There is no way I can even come close to capturing in words a life as big as his in one short service.

So where I come short today, I want you to pick up my slack in the day’s, weeks and years ahead.

If you want to honor Keith, tell your “Keith” stories to each other.

There are thousands of them.

Kennett Keith Stories, Louisiana Keith stories, Chattanooga Keith Stories, Scottsboro Keith Stories, Huntsville Keith Stories, Florida Keith stories.

Then there are Golf Keith stories, Lake Keith stories, Houseboat Keith stories, Motorcycle Keith stories.

Motorhome Keith stories, Nascar Keith Stories and traveling Keith Stories.….and the list goes on.

Share them, call and visit one another, and share your stories of Keith and maybe we will cry a little, but we will laugh a-lot.

In a minute I am going to invite Annell to come up and share some of those stories, but first I would like to read a message from Ed Jansson

Ed Jansson

Keith was such a unique person.

Definitely a Type A personality.

I always admired him from a distance.

A true man’s man!

He has a great family whom he loved so much.

Debbie was the love of his life!

He spoke so highly of each of his children and step children.

He was so proud of each one.

I remember when Debbie and Keith moved back to Kennett.

They immediately became very active at FBC.

From the beginning, Keith was so encouraging to me as his pastor.

I remember when Keith came to see me one day to talk about becoming a church member.

We talked extensively about the influence that his church had on his early life.

We also talked about the time he had acknowledged his need for Jesus.

He stated that he had received forgiveness of his sins and Gods gift of eternal life.

One of the passions that we both enjoyed was motorcycles.

He would always come over to the house whenever he got a different bike or he added a new accessory.

After we had retired from FBC, moved to Texas,  and following the passing of my wife Judy, Keith reached out to me.

He proposed a meeting in Hot Springs for a few days of riding.

When we met up, he asked me how many days I wanted to ride?

I said a couple of days.

He said, “Oh no, at least 5 days.”

Honestly, I didn’t want to ride that long, but how do you tell Keith, no?

I had no idea that I needed that ride!

I had no clue what God was going to do during those 5 days.