Timothy Sanders Parker

Surrounded by his wife and three children, Timothy Sanders Parker (Tim) passed away peacefully on September 29, 2025, at Sacred Ground Hospice House in Knoxville, TN. He was 66. Truth be told, had the Atlanta Braves’ season ended a day earlier, Tim would have passed on the 28th, but he had to watch one more win before leaving this world. Born to Bob and Jean Parker on Cherry Point Military Base in North Carolina on May 13, 1959, Tim was the 8th of 9 children. Primarily growing up in Marietta, Georgia and Upland, California (we’re still not sure how his parents moved all 11 of them across the country), Tim quickly developed a sharp sense of humor to both stand out and act as family mediator. That sense of humor and desire to make others feel seen, heard, and cared for carried him through life. Tim looked for the good in people while maintaining a playground sense of justice and hope for a better world for his grandkids. With the exception of baseball, milkshakes, and Kroger brand salsa, Tim loved nothing more than his family. Tim graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Physical Education. He soon moved to Knoxville where he received a Masters in Education from the University of Tennessee. After graduating, Tim started his career at UT as an academic advisor to student-athletes before serving as Associate Director of academic advising in the College of Business. His love of sports and teaching brought him to the Episcopal School of Knoxville where he served as Athletic Director, Dean of Students, P.E. teacher, multi-sport coach, part-time DJ, and full-time embarrasser of his own children (some of us will never recover from 6th grade Sex Education). Throughout his long teaching career at ESK and later L&N STEM Academy, Tim managed to make all his students feel seen, and never ceased to lighten the mood with a bad joke, silly dance move, or Tootsie Pop. Tim rarely missed his children’s sporting events, primarily because he was also coaching them. Tim wore many hats (mainly a Braves hat) throughout his career, but countless kids and parents knew him as “Coach Parker.” From flag football to bowling, Tim did it all. It wasn’t because he was a competitor trying to do anything to win, but because he wanted everyone to feel like they were part of a team and could do things they didn’t think were possible. Tim wanted every kid to feel special no matter their skill level, size, or background. When his daughter's AYSO soccer team was picking a name and split on being “The T-Rex’s” or “The Jaguars,” Tim figured, “Why not both?” and spent that season coaching “The T-Rex Jaguars.” At summer swim meets you could find Tim under the team tent with a bucket of bubble gum asking trivia questions to entertain during a rain delay, or poolside cheering on every last 8 and under freestyler. Tim didn’t care about winning, but boy, did he and the kids he coached have fun. Whether it was a young man he taught in P.E. who needed a little extra encouragement to perform in a talent show, or a stranger on a bench outside a shop, Tim was always eager to lend an ear and go out of his way to help. Tim lived in The 4th & Gill Neighborhood for 40 years (in three different homes on the same street!) and personified the word “neighbor.” He could often be found helping a neighbor fix something with their house, talking to strangers-turned-friends, or running to give the trash collectors a cold drink. Even after his kids were out of the house, he continued to support and find ways to be part of their lives. From acting as a “Tuber” and picking them up from UT games and nights out with friends, or joining them for a rousing rendition of Before the Next Teardrop Falls at Marie’s Tavern, to traveling across multiple states to help paint his daughter’s house, Tim always went out of his way to be there for his kids. Over the past two years, Tim got to fulfill his nearly life-long dream of becoming a grandpa. From chasing his granddaughter through the halls of his house to training her on the cornhole boards, Tim and Ellis had an undeniable bond. Though his life was cut too short to get to be Grandpa to all of his children’s children, Tim fulfilled that role for countless neighborhood kids, children of colleagues, and kids at church - going out of his way to entertain, educate, and make them feel seen. Tim was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Bob and Jean Parker, his grandparents, and his mother-in-law Betsy Mashburn. He is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Missy Parker; his children Kathy Potter (Ryan), Macy Parker (Peter), and Sam Parker (Lucy); his granddaughter Ellis, who adored her “Pa;” his siblings David Muffelman (Pam), Paula Campbell (Greg), Joe Parker (Evelyn), John Parker (Kathi), Robin Parker (Karen), Chet Parker (Mary), Dan Parker (Angela), and Sam Parker (Linda); his in-laws Bob and Ginna Mashburn; his wonderful Aunt Patti; as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. A celebration of Tim’s life will be held at Central United Methodist Church in Knoxville on Saturday, November 8th at 2pm followed by a reception. The service will also be live-streamed on the church’s website (knoxcentralumc.org/live-stream/) for those not able to join in person. In lieu of flowers, Tim’s family would love donations to be made to Alzheimer’s Tennessee (under “Special Instructions,” please indicate you’d like the donation to go to Howard’s Circle of Friends – the organization that supported Tim and Missy throughout his battle with Alzheimer’s) as well as to Sacred Ground Hospice House.

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Timothy Sanders Parker

May 13, 1959 - September 29, 2025