Thomas Orin Parks

Thomas Orin Parks, known to all as Tom, of St. Clair, MO departed this life at his home on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, having reached the age of seventy-seven years, ten months and twenty-four days. Tom was born in Washington, MO on August 7, 1947, son of Paul Orin Parks and Treva Joyce Parks nee Lewis. On March 21, 1987, he married Tina Marie Koch, and together they raised two children. Tom is survived by his daughter, Paige Bird and husband, Patrick; by his son, Jordan Parks and wife, Chelsea; by his sister, Patti Parks; by his former wife, Tina Parks; and by his grandchildren, Riley and Noah Bird, all of St. Clair, MO; and by nieces, nephews, cousins and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents. A proud lifelong member of the St. Clair community, Tom grew up working alongside his family at R&R, the store his grandparents founded in 1932. After graduating from St. Clair High School in 1965, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO and a Master’s in Business Administration from Stanford University in Stanford, CA. Following college, Tom served as a U.S. Navy officer aboard the USS Leonard F. Mason during the Vietnam War. Upon his return home, he and his father brought Tom's MBA thesis to life, opening R&R Center in 1975. Tom poured his heart into the family business for nearly 50 years, leading its evolution and growth, while always keeping the focus on community service and customer care. His hands-on work ethic, vision, and dedication left a lasting imprint , literally and figuratively, on the store and the people it served. Though Tom was passionate about retail, his greatest joy was being a dad and later, a grandfather. His pride in his children, and in seeing them carry forward the family legacy with their own talents and ideas, was unmatched. Watching them build on what he started, including the family's expansion into Sullivan Ace Hardware in 2022, brought him immense pride. Tom was also a devoted community member, giving his time to organizations such as the St. Clair Lion’s Club and the St. Clair Merchant Committee, and he served on the board of directors for several organizations including Variety Distributors Inc, Heartland Bank (now Midland Bank), and Mercy Hospital in Washington, MO. He was a lifelong learner, history enthusiast, and enjoyed golf, travel, and lively conversations with friends. Above all, Tom will be remembered for his generous heart, unwavering support for his family, and his ability to lead with both strength and kindness. His legacy lives on through his family, the businesses he built, and the community he loved. Visitation will be held from 1:00 to 8:00 PM on Sunday, July 6, 2025, at Russell Colonial Funeral Home in St. Clair, MO, and after 9:00 AM on Monday, July 7, 2025. Funeral services will follow at 12:00 PM. Private inurnment will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Lonedell, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the St. Clair Historical Museum (PO Box 137, St. Clair, MO 63077).

Thomas Orin Parks

August 7, 1947 - July 1, 2025