Donald "Joe" Parsons was born December 27, 1944 in Dumas, Texas to Bonnie and W.C. (Dub) Parsons. He attended elementary school in Cactus, Texas and Jr. High and High School in Dumas. A natural athlete, Joe was a star quarterback for the 1961 and 1962 Dumas Demon State Championship football team, and was a starter for the 1962 State Championship basketball team. In 1963, Joe's senior year, they were defeated in the State Championship basketball game by a very narrow margin. Joe served his country as an MP at a missile site on the DMZ in South Korea during the Vietnam conflict. Joe married Tim Ann Dooley on June 09, 1973 at the First United Methodist Church in Sunray, Texas. He attended the University of North Texas and received a Bachelor's Degree in Economics and an MBA in Business and Economics all within three years. Joe worked in a variety of fields including Otis Engineering (now Haliburton) as a Quality Control Manager and a car salesman where he achieved recognition as one of the top 50 salesmen in the US for Mazda. This was achieved with no previous experience in car sales. However, his greatest love came as a teacher. Joe was working on becoming a certified elementary teacher, but was unable to finish his teaching credentials due to health reasons. He didn't let that stop him. Joe became a substitute teacher for Amarillo ISD, and touched the lives and earned the love of many children. Teachers would regularly requested Joe to fill in for them in their absence because they knew he took teaching seriously, and would get the job done with great skill but, more importantly, he would have fun with the students while doing it. His favorite grades were second and third grades. All the kids affectionately called him "Mr. P". Tim Ann was always finding little notes from the students in his pockets telling him how much they loved him, and what a really cool teacher he was. Joe is preceded in death by his parents, W.C. and Bonnie Parsons, a brother, Eddie Lee and two sisters, Bonnie "Marie" Owens and Eva Bell Venable. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Tim Ann, a son, Conner and wife Kate, a granddaughter, Cleo, and another granddaughter to be born in December all of Dallas and a brother, Larry and wife Doris of Stratford, Texas, and many nieces and nephews, in-laws and friends. He was one of the good, fun guys and will be missed by all who knew him. A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at ARIA Memorial Chapel in Dallas. Arrangements are under the direction of: ARIA Cremation Service and Funeral Home 19310 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75252 214-306-6700