Oliver Lynn “Chicken” Parks, age 84 of Lake City

Oliver Lynn “Chicken” Parks, age 84 of Lake City, passed away Friday, November 21, 2025surrounded by family and friends. Lynn was known in the community for growing large gardens with vegetables to share with friends and neighbors. His sunflowers brought smiles to many who passed by his farm as they grew tall in his okra, peppers, and tomatoes. He had a love for tractors and found great joy in helping with the Anderson County Fair’s Tractor and Garden displays annually with his friend Howard Farmer. For many years he participated in the Shrine Paper Sale raising funds for Shriners Children’s Hospitals. He looked forward to the week he spent each year at Food City greeting shoppers and supporting the Shrine effort as a 50+ year member of the Coal Creek Masonic Lodge. Lynn was proud of having logged over 3 million miles in a tractor trailer starting at Metler Hauling and Rigging driving coast to coast and then with Exxon in a gasoline tanker locally. He wasn’t much for travel saying, “I don’t need to travel, I saw it all in a truck.” His stories of hauls to California and New York were filled with adventure and humor. As a U.S. Army veteran, Lynn gleefully remembered his time in the service with tall tales about rowdy nights in France but was proud to have served his country. He loved our flag and all it represents. He cherished the friendship of his pals from Glenn’s Pizza, especially those who sat at the “liars’ table”, his buddies from Cracker Barrel in Lake City, and his neighbors and lifelong friends from South Clinton and Dutch Valley. Yes, that’s the Cracker Barrel in Lake City because Lynn was quick to tell you “Rocky Top is a song, Lake City is a town”. He was Forever a Laker!

Lynn was preceded in death by his parents Tom and Georgia Parks and survived by a host of family and friends because Lynn never met a stranger anywhere he went. His former wife of 47 years, Faye Parks, has served as a caregiver and friend. Daughter Angela “Hoppy” Merryman and husband Jeff, Sister Ella Ayers and husband Phil, grandson Kolby Merryman and Brandon Isabell, whom he loved like a son, will cherish Lynn’s wit, smile, and joy for life along with his “country as cornbread” sayings that sprinkled humor and wisdom into everyone’s daily journey.

Receiving of friends will be held Wednesday, November 26th from noon to 2 pm at Leach Family Funeral Home in Lake City. Funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Ben Neal. Following the funeral service, a graveside service will be held at Grandview Memorial Garden. Lynn often said, “I am just an old farmer who has been blessed all his life”. He loved passing the blessings on to others. In lieu of flowers, consider celebrating his life by donating to the Anderson County High School FFA (140 Maverick Circle, Clinton TN 37716), Clinton High School FFA (425 Dragon Drive, Clinton TN 37716) or Shriner’s Hospitals at donate.shrinerschildrens.org in honor of Lynn’s legacy of growing things and helping people.

The family would like to thank Dr. Wendy May and staff at UT Family physicians, Dr. Daniel Ibach and the team at Tennessee Cancer Center, Dr. Andrew Conrad and Tyler Irwin and staff at Vista Radiology, the team at Fort Sanders Radiology Department, Parkwest Medical center staff, Dr Brian Christiansen of Arches Foot Care Oak Ridge and Anderson County EMS for their love and care. Thank you to cousins Kay Foust and Sammy Foust, friends John Martin, Randy Pettit, and Glen Toler for your visits that brought joy and support over the last few months. You are loved and appreciated.