William Coffey Parkey

Rev. William Coffey Parkey, 80, a well-known and widely respected Pentecostal minister of Poplar Bluff died Monday, Aug. 8, 2011 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.
Rev. Parkey was born on July 29, 1931 near Paoli, Okla. He graduated from Paoli High School in 1949, and received his bachelor?s degree in History and English from Oklahoma University in 1954.
He was a licensed minister with the United Pentecostal Church International for fifty-eight years. Throughout his tenure, he was involved in many ministries and served in a variety of leadership roles. Rev. Parkey evangelized for several years and pastored churches in Oklahoma and Missouri. He also served as the president of Gateway College of Evangelism in St. Louis, Mo. for nine years.
Rev. Parkey was involved with the writing ministry of the UPCI for many years, serving on the Curriculum Committee and the Board of Publications and contributing lessons, articles and tracts for publication.
He authored a number of songs and choruses that are known among the Pentecostal fellowship. These include, ""Lord, Set Me Afire,"" ""Don't Let Me Forget,"" and ""Faith Can Move Mountains.""
Rev. Parkey published two books? a devotional book on Proverbs entitled Treasures and Truths, and a book of poetry entitled Sentimental Journey. He also completed a devotional book on Ecclesiastes entitled Devotion and Duty, which has not yet been printed.
In 2010, Rev. Parkey was inducted into the Order of the Faith of the United Pentecostal Church International for his contributions to the organization. He was honored at a banquet at the General Conference of the UPCI in Houston, Tex.
For the last thirty years of his life, Rev. Parkey resided in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. He came to the city in 1980 to assume the pastorate of the First United Pentecostal Church located at the corner of Sanders and Relief Streets. In 1983, a new Church building was built one mile north of the city limits on Highway 67.
In 2000, his son, Bryan Parkey, became his co-pastor at Cornerstone Tabernacle. In 2002, Rev. W.C. Parkey retired as pastor and was given the title of Bishop by his church. He served the church in this capacity until his passing.
On September 23, 1961, he married Betty Lou Morgans, of Claremore, Okla.
Rev. Parkey is survived by his wife of nearly 50 years, Betty Parkey; his four children; Beth Dillon and her husband Jeff of Winchester, Va.; Barbara Braswell and her husband Keith of St. Louis, Mo.; Bill Parkey and his wife Stephany of Bloomington, Ind.; and Bryan Parkey and his wife Lisa of Poplar Bluff; ten grandchildren: Tyler, Tiffany and Trey Braswell; Kayla Dillon; Zakery, Zarisa, Zayne and Zyan Parkey; and Dylan and Kinsey Parkey; his sister, Georgia Parkey of North Richland Hills, Tex.; and many nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Olen and Fay Parkey, sisters, Rachel Webster, Betty Mildred Parkey, Naomi Luce, Hazel Ayers and Mary Boren, and brother, Robert Parkey.
Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Cornerstone Tabernacle in Poplar Bluff. The funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at Cornerstone Tabernacle with burial following at the Poplar Bluff City Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be sent to the W. C. Parkey Memorial Fund, c/o Cornerstone Tabernacle, 3516 North Westwood, Poplar Bluff, Missouri 63901.
Cotrell Funeral Service of Poplar Bluff is in charge of the arrangements.