Parquette

Mark Lewis Parquette, 57, of Tucson, Ariz., formerly of Butler, went to be with his heavenly father on Tuesday at his home surrounded by those who loved him the best, his wife, children, grandchildren and puppies.

He was born Oct. 20, 1954, in Mercer, the son of Frederick L. Parquette of Grove City and the late Betty (Robinson) Jablonski.

Mark was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Vietnam War era. He was retired after 21 years with ABF Trucking and then went on to pursue his lifelong dream of being owner/operator for Legacy Trucking under R.E. Barnett. He also worked at the Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, Federal Penitentiary as a correction officer.

He enjoyed spending time with his wife of 35 1/2 years, as well as his children and grandchildren, taking his three dogs to the dog park, riding his motorcycle, playing golf and tennis and hunting and fishing. Mark was a longtime Steelers fan as well as an avid NASCAR fan.

Surviving him, along with his father, are his wife, Patricia A. (Barnett) Parquette, who he married Dec. 25, 1976; three daughters, Christina I. (Jeff) Lesher of Selinsgrove, Pa., Denise M. (Larry) Bidwell of Loysville, Pa., and Nanci E. (Bill) Orris of Tucson, Ariz.; a son, Brian W. Hanford of Tucson, Ariz.; 12 grandchildren; and a sister, Marjorie L. Parquette of Butler.

He was preceded in death by his mother; step-father, Louis Jablonski; a sister, Bonnie L. Parquette; and a grandson, Marcus A. Hanford.

PARQUETTE — Friends of Mark Lewis Parquette, who passed away Tuesday, May 29, 2012, will be received at Young Funeral Home, 127 W. Jefferson St., Butler, from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Military honors will be given at the funeral home at 6 p.m. Friday by the VFW 249 and the American Legion 778 posts.Services will be at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Saturday with the Rev. Larry J. Bidwell officiating. Interment will be in the Butler County Memorial Park.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 4560 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85711 or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.For more information, go to www.youngfuneralhomes.com.