James E. Parks, 84, of Coshocton, passed away on April 12, 2026, at Morrison Hospice House surrounded by his family.

He was born on February 22, 1942, in Coshocton to the late Leonard and Gustava (Glazier) Parks. A proud 1960 graduate of Coshocton High School, James went on to marry Loretta (Kieffer) Parks on August 13, 1961, who survives. Together James and Loretta raised their three children and centered their life on family.

Shortly after high school, James began working at General Electric where he would show his dedication and work ethic for the next 35 years until his retirement. In his free time, James found joy in the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, and golfing. He could be described as a meticulous person and that was shown in many aspects of his life. He was a skilled wood worker in a clean, well-organized wood shop. He was passionate about creating beautiful furniture for his family where he gave great attention to detail. His handmade Christmas gifts became a cherished tradition that family anticipated each year.

In quieter times, you could find him reading a book. He enjoyed the western genre until he had read all the library had to offer then moved on to explore new genres. The family will treasure the mementos he left behind, including the small “xo” he left in all his books.

James is survived by his children, Debi Parks, Kim (Bill) Jones, and Jay (Kim) Parks; grandchildren, Nicholas (Kim) Neal, Patrick Neal, Jason Jones, Jennifer (Jamie) Rice, Jeremy (Kara) Jones, and Bill Hardesty; 9 great-grandchildren and sister, Janet Scheetz.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Rachael Honabarger.

A cremation will take place with the Miller Funeral Home and Crematory.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Coshocton Public Library at 655 Main Street Coshocton, Ohio 43812.An online memorial can be viewed at www.themillerfuneralhome.com.