Harold Dean Parks

Harold Dean Parks, age 86, of Sylva went home to Heaven on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Harold Dean was born on July 8, 1939 to CY and Wilena Parks in Haywood County, NC. He graduated from Crabtree Iron Duff High School in 1958.

Following High School Harold went to work with his father building houses including his own. In 1963 he married the love of his life Mary Elizabeth Thompson. They welcomed their first child a son (Mike) in 1965 and 4 years later their second child a daughter (Cindy).

When his dad decided to retire from building houses Harold went to work at C J Harris Community Hospital in the Maintenance Department where he became known as Harold Dean since there was already a Harold working in the Maintenance Department. He worked there for over 30 years, eventually becoming the Maintenance Supervisor before retiring.

Harold Dean proudly and faithfully served with the Balsam-Willets Ochre Hill VFD for 44 years (1981-until his passing ). He was one of the founding members, and still served on the Department’s board.

Harold will be fondly remembered by his family and friends as being a man of few words, but a man who loved his family, and his animals. His favorite pastimes were mowing his yard, gardening, and camping.

In addition to his parents, Harold is proceeded in death by his precious wife, Mary, of over 60 years, brothers JT and Charles, and his sister Mary Blanche Davis.

Harold is survived by his children Mike Parks (Connie Parks), daughter Cindy Henson (Stacy Henson), grandson Taylor Parks, granddaughter Sydney Henson (Amanda Seabolt), great-grandson Archie Seabolt-Henson, sister Sandra Hyder (Ronnie), and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held at 3:00pm on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at Ochre Hill Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Norman-Blanton Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:30-3:00pm prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Ochre Hill Baptist Church Mission Team or Balsam-Willets Ochre Hill VFD.

“It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.” -Randy Travis-