Obituary: Freddie Ray Parker, 81, of Custer

Freddie Ray Parker, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at the age of 81. Surrounded by family, he grew his wings in the comfort of his home, beside his loving wife of 63 years, Shirley Parker.

Fred’s journey began on Jan. 11, 1945, in Reed City where Ada and Floyd welcomed their youngest son into the world. A young man with a wild spirit, he always enjoyed traveling the country with his mom, dad, and older siblings Forest, Dorothy, and Daisy. West Virginia was an early favorite, but eventually took a backseat to Ludington after meeting the love of his life in the summer of 1962, Shirley.

Fred and Shirley’s love story began under a streetlight on James Street and Ludington Avenue, a moment that led to a lifetime of passion. The two became inseparable almost immediately. Spending that summer under the stars, they grew madly in love. On October 11, 1962, at the tender age of 16, they chose forever together and never wavered. Fred praised Shirley often and was never shy about the love he had for his wife. He was a proud husband and frequently spoke about how lucky he was to have Shirley. One of his proudest moments was getting baptized side by side together in West Virginia. Their marriage is a testament of hard work, love, and dedication.

Eventually bringing three children into the world, Fred and Shirley decided to settle back in Ludington. Fred landed a job at the local foundry and became a dedicated molder. He was a talented mechanic and loved taking on side jobs. However, it was his passions outside of work that truly defined who he was. Nicknames like OMP, (Old Man Parker) or “Wrencher” or Dr. Demento and Reverend Freddie Ray No Lie were always the welcoming lines at the local hotspots. A cowboy at heart, Fred had a deep love for music, often entertaining family and friends with his guitar. Being a back porch picker at heart, he loved writing twangy blue grass music with his own twist on a tune. When he put his Stetson on, pulled out his Gibson, you knew it was time to listen. He was an outstanding fisherman, a skilled hunter, and a gardener with a green thumb, who took immense pride in being a steward of his land. He was one with nature.

When Fred wasn’t planting a garden or playing his Gibson, he was tinkering in his pole barn. Frequently assembling motorcycles from the ground up, he loved a good bike project. He always said, “There’s just nothing like a Harley”. He rode proud until the age of 75 in this life but will be joyfully reunited with his Harley on the streets of gold for eternity.

Fred grew up in a family that valued hard work and togetherness. He was taught early on that family comes first, and that never changed. He was an exceptional husband and father. He spent his golden years growing old with Shirley and raising their grandchildren joyfully in Custer, MI. He often spoke of his, “glory days” and told old folklore tales around the campfire. Fred had a lot of roles in his 81 years, but his favorite was always “Grandpa”. He was proud of the Parker roots and instilled it into every one of his grandkids.

He was preceded in death by his mother Ada, father Floyd, brother Forest, sisters Dorothy and Daisy, and his grandson, Peter. Fred leaves behind a loving family, including his devoted wife Shirley, daughters Lisa Ellis (Jeff Ellis) and Raneen Berg (Brian Berg), son Fred Parker (Karrie), 10 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren who all brought him immense joy. Fred’s life will be honored through music, hard work, pride, smiles, stories, and love.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Teresa.

1 Corinthians 16:13 – “Be watchful, stand firm in faith, act like men, be strong.”

Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon forged against you shall prosper.”

Arrangements were entrusted to Grace Funeral Home & Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com.