Emmett Ducloux Parker

Emmett Ducloux Parker 1925 ~ 2013

On May 18, 2013, at Ogden Regional Medical Center, Emmett Parker passed quietly from this life with his family by his side.

Emmett was born on February 26, 1925 in Ogden, Utah to Lulu and Mark Parker. He was one of six children. Emmett grew up in Ogden, and was a lifelong resident.

One of the defining elements of Emmett''s dynamic life was his deep love of the mountains a€" the wild lands, animals and plant life, and exploring the same. At age 6, with his older brother Lynn, he learned to ski and ski jump on local hills, and later at Snow Basin.

At age 18, with his skiing experience, he enlisted with the US Army 10th Mountain Division, an elite battalion created to fight in the high mountain ranges of Europe in WWII. After military service in northern Italy, he returned home to Ogden, and married Annette Brown of North Ogden on October 13, 1949 in Salt Lake City. They had three children.

He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Emmett attended Utah State University where he studied zoology, and skied for the school''s Alpine Ski Team. He worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a brakeman and conductor for 35 years.

At age 56, he took up marathon running. In his mid-sixties he held national championship age-group titles in the marathon and 10K. His last marathon was run at age 82. In his late sixties and into his eighties he turned to trail running, completing the Grand Canyon "Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim" trek four times.

At age 62, Emmett retired from the railroad. On a whim, he borrowed a library book about "woodcarving", teaching himself to carve waterfowl and other birds; his birds, some award winning, are on public display at several locations in Ogden.

Emmett is survived by his wife, Annette; children, Ann Parker-Judd (Mike), Aimee Parkin and Jeff Parker; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, as well as sisters, Donna Browne and Chyrrel Gridley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one older sister and two older brothers.

A Memorial service for Emmett will be held on Thursday, May 23, 2013 11 a.m. at Lindquist''s Ogden Mortuary, 3408 Washington Blvd. Friends may visit with family on Thursday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the mortuary.

His family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah, 3127 North Pelican Dr., Farr West, UT 84404 in honor of Emmett Parker; wrcnu.ord; 801-814-7888.

His race was run.