Mick Parker, Panther Pest Control

The love of my life, my confidant and best friend, Mick Parker went to be with our Lord and Savior yesterday evening, May 26th.  Thankfully, his son and son-in-law (both state licensed field representative technicians - trained by dad) to carry on his life work and keep Panther Pest Control "exterminating what's bugging you!".  

According to the paramedics, he passed while at rest. He was in his truck in between work stops taking a break and resting before his evening work.  Sadly, I wasn't there when it happened, but I did get to spend precious time there at his truck before they took him away.  He looked so peaceful and those of you who know him and know how he likes to joke - I seriously expected him to open his eyes and tease that he was just kidding.  He was so excited today to be using his new equipment and I could hear in his voice how happy he was to have his new tools. I just can't believe he's gone. 

I'm so in awe of the wonderful man I married and so in love with him. He was an amazing dad to our 7 kids and a fun grandpa of 10.  I am one of the luckiest women in this world to have found a love so genuine and caring.  Mick was a "live, and let live" kind of guy.  He loved everyone and accepted them as they were; never trying to change them or expecting anything more than just who they exactly were.  He was passionate about his company and loved his customers. Getting rid of their pests was his joy and more importantly, having a good conversation - naturally full of wisdom, love and happiness.  He also loved teaching the kids at Sunday School and Awana. His stories came alive as he captivated the kids and taught them about the Bible and Jesus.  

He treated me like the most precious gift he could have ever received and I am going to be lost without him. I never doubted how much he loved me. We laughed a lot and loved more than 5 lifetimes. We were "peas and carrots", "peanut butter and jelly", Shrek and Fiona. I just can't believe he's gone....

We weren't prepared for this and Mick made his wishes clear that he didn't want to be cremated.  After his quad by-pass surgery in 2008 he was uninsurable so there is no life insurance to help with burying him.  Our pest control business was growing thanks to so many of our TEAM referral partners and BFF and CUPS referral network groups and Yelp and an amazing loving community, here in Santa Clarita - and of course, we thought that we would be able to start saving this summer, knowing our business would multiply.  Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. 

Update:  Although we did not reach our goal to have Mick buried instead of cremated, we feel tremendously blessed.  While being so upset about not being able to move forward with Mick's wishes, an old conversation was brought to my thoughts - and almost as clear as a vision. I was teasing Mick about "my wanting to be cremated and not wasting money, etc." and he turned to me and said, "Honey, it doesn't matter what you want. It's only gonna matter what the kids and I want because you won't be here any more and all that matters is how those who are left behind need to remember you.  Whether that be cremation or burial, it's not up to you... it's up to us."
So, at that moment I felt like I had been let off the hook. It was an "ahah moment" and the burden was gone. I didn't want to bury Mick. The kids and I decided it would be great to have him cremated and decide what to do with his ashes, like finding a way to ask Stan Kroenke if his biggest Rams fan,  Mick Parker's ashes can be somehow put into the new Rams stadium that is being built, because Mick would love to be there and anyone who knew him would agree.
So, thank you all for helping us cremate this wonderful man and have a beautiful memorial for him, and thank you for the beautiful urn.