James Earl Parker; Citrus Farmer

Citrus farmer James Earl Parker, a lifelong Ventura County resident, died at his Ventura home Friday. He was 85.

Parker was born April 19, 1914, in Santa Paula. His family has farmed in Santa Paula and Saticoy since the early 1900s.

He attended grade school in Santa Paula and went on to Santa Paula High School, graduating in 1933. He also attended UC Davis.

Parker enjoyed exploring and hunting in the Sespe wilderness during the 1920s and ‘30s. He traveled throughout the country and Europe in the 1930s, escaping from Poland during the German invasion in 1939.

In 1940, he married Alice L. James, an elementary school teacher, and the couple made Ventura their home.

He became a citrus farmer and developed his farming skills. He also enjoyed introducing his children to interesting things, such as the large construction sites at Casitas Dam and Ventura Harbor. In later years, he loved to attend local swap meets and tinker with machinery.

Parker had been a member of the Saticoy Lions Club for many years.

He was preceded in death by his wife in October.

Survivors include a son, Tom, of Fair Oaks; a daughter, Janet Parker Rogers, of Helena, Mont., three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services are scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Ventura with the Rev. Jerome Kahler officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to the Saticoy Lions Club’s Vision Project, c/o Downtown Ventura Lions Club, P.O. Box 25180, Ventura, CA 93001.

Arrangements are under the direction of Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura.