Richard "Dean" Parker

Richard “Dean” Parker was born on December 21, 1960, in Grants, NM to Patsy Lou Sedberry. Little did she know, she had given birth to a baby boy who would become a great man. This man departed our world way too soon on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Dean is preceded in death by his mom, Patsy Lou Chapman; grandparents, Adolph and Katherine Sedberry; Uncle Joe Sedberry; cousin, Shelly Sedberry; father-in-law Charlie Herrera; and niece Roxann Cowan. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of nearly 24 years, Gina Herrera-Parker; son, Jonah Parker; Uncle Phil Sedberry; Uncle Mike Sedberry; Aunt Carol Sedberry, mother-in-law, Grace Herrera; sisters-in-law Debbie Cowan and Terri Herrera; niece Deanna (Russell Allen) Cowan; nephews, Benjamin Montoya and Christian Benavidez; great nephews, Andrevion, Sebastian, Landon, Dalton, and Tayvin; as well as many friends, cousins, and extended family members.

Dean was the eldest of three children. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM, graduating from Albuquerque High School in 1978. He had many names and depending upon the time in his life that you met him, determined what you called him. He was known by many as Richard, Rich, Dicky, Rock, Dean, Bear, Osito, and Parker. But the name he wore with the most pride was Daddy.

He wore a variety of work hats during his life. His first job was as a beer back in a bar during his teen years. He also worked as a janitor for the University of New Mexico, did random jobs at the New Mexico State Fair, he was a limo driver for a wealthy man (OH!!! The stories!!), a security guard at a massage parlor, as well as a DJ in many night clubs in Albuquerque.
In his thirties, Dean found his professional calling as a computer technician. He learned all he could, researched, took certification courses, and became a computer “wizard” as many have called him. He started his technology career in New Mexico and when he moved to Pueblo, he was quickly employed by Best Buy Computers. He eventually moved on to own a computer repair shop called Maxtech Computers. He was also the IT tech for the Diocese of Pueblo and an IT tech for Pueblo School District No. 60. For the last 16+ years, he worked in the K-12 school cafeteria system as a trainer, implementor, and account specialist - in other words, the go-to technology guru. Many of his co-workers quickly became friends, and over the years both these co-workers and customers adored him and relied on his intelligence. Heartland School Solutions was fortunate to have him as a dedicated, loyal, and intelligent employee and in turn, they treated him VERY well and truly appreciated his commitment. He took great pride in a job well done, and he always gave his work everything he had.

But nothing was more important to Dean than family. If you hurt one family member he loved, you earned yourself an enemy. He was a fierce protector of everyone he loved. Living his life by the many lessons he learned through his obsession of the movie, “The Godfather,” family ALWAYS came first. Dean and his mother Pat, who gave birth to him when she was only 18, were incredibly close and had a very special bond as mother and son. In a way, they grew up together. His heart was crushed when she passed in March 2017. His early upbringing with his grandparents provided him with a solid foundation, and his grandfather and uncles taught him how to be a man. He valued those men, and his grandmother was the center of his heart. His fondest memories of his childhood were spent in their cozy home full of love, lessons, and laughter.

In the fall of 1996, he met Gina Herrera in an “America On-Line” chat room. Their courtship started out as long distance, and the phone bills were outrageous! Their connection was like no other. Gina always said the moment she met him, she knew she had met the man she would marry. After many trips from Albuquerque to Pueblo, he moved to be with Gina in the spring of 1997 and they were married on April 25, 1998. Never have two people been more compatible. There was never a fight in their marriage, not one. Learning from past mistakes and past relationships, they both approached this marriage with respect and laughter, giving them a loving foundation for a child they were blessed with after seven years of fertility treatments. Jonah Dean was born on September 22, 2005. Jonah completed Dean’s heart and fulfilled his lifelong dream of being a father.

Dean, Gina, and Jonah built a wonderful life surrounded by family and friends throughout the years enjoying BBQ’s, dinners, birthdays, and holidays. He loved having people around him and thoroughly enjoyed inviting people into his home. The three traveled to Disney World, Legoland in California, Seattle, Houston, Bearizona Wildlife Park in Arizona, Oklahoma, both southern and northern California, and New Mexico. Adventure was always a high priority on the family’s to-do list!

Music was so much a part of who Dean was. From his old DJ days to the days in his neighborhood jamming the summer nights away with his buddies, to participating in various church choirs, his voice was a God-given gift that he enjoyed sharing. If you were in the car with him, you got a concert! He was a member of the St. Joseph’s Spirit Choir and a member of the Men’s Spirit Choir until his passing. They were his second family and treated him with so much love and respect. He truly shined when he performed solo songs during mass. As of today, the men’s choir has officially renamed their group the,  “St. Richard Men’s Choir.”  What an honor!

During the last couple years, he became interested in learning more about the father he never knew - Donald Froman. He ordered an ancestry kit, and little did he know, he had opened a huge box that contained a whole new family! The Froman family welcomed their new first cousin into their world with open arms! His cousin Anne wrote this about Dean:  “You were my first cousin that I found through Ancestry DNA testing - you came asking nothing but a connection to the family you had never known. I cherish our conversations and the little time we had together in Colorado and at the family reunion last July. I know the healing effect our family’s welcome brought to you. What a joy it was to take a step back in time and learn your journey. You were such an open book, and I knew right away you were the real deal. At first, I felt cheated that I did not know you the first 60 years of your life. Now I feel cheated that you have left us all too soon. Rest easy my cousin. You will be missed but not forgotten.”
His enduring legacy will be that he loved completely, with his entire heart, and he gave us all enough love to last a lifetime. He taught us all many life-long lessons that we will carry with us always. Dean battled with his health the last two years and three months, a battle he fought with everything he had. From bout after bout of sepsis, to gallbladder issues ending with a failing liver and blood clots in his legs, lungs, and liver, his battered body is finally at peace.
 
Dean will NEVER be forgotten. His legacy will live on in all of us and his son Jonah will grow and thrive as a great man because he was taught by example from watching his heroic father.