Douglas Edward Parkin

Douglas Edward Parkin, born to loving parents Edward Parkin and Grace Patterson Parkin,

entered this world in September of 1942 in St. Louis, MO, and departed for heaven at the age of 80 on

December 30, 2022, in Tucson, AZ. Douglas shared his childhood with his sisters Eileen (Altenhofer of

Seattle, WA) and Grace (Covey of Chalfont, PA). Douglas, a lover of learning and people, pursued a

career in medicine by attending Arizona State University and graduating from medical school at the

University of California, Irvine. While working in a hospital in Phoenix, he met his wife, Alice, who

became his right hand as a life partner. Together they created a life of love, kindness, compassion,

healing, and giving. Douglas served in the army from 1970 -1973 and then practiced medicine in

Mississippi and Arkansas until returning home to Arizona. He worked alongside Doctor Glen Walker in

Coolidge, AZ, and then moved to Casa Grande, AZ, in 1981 to set up his own practice, the Cottonwood

Medical Center. The medical office was his second home as he saw his colleagues, patients, and the

greater community as family. Doctor Parkin enjoyed his years as the team doctor for the Casa Grande

Cougar football team, as he could root for boys from the sidelines. He volunteered as the medical director

at the Stanfield Medical Clinic for ten years, caring for community members who could not afford health

care. He "retired" from Cottonwood Medical Center in 2015 and later served as a physician for the Gila

River Indian Community in Sacaton, Ak-Chin, and Komatke, retiring at age 76.

Doctor Parkin felt a call to service, not only to his community in Arizona but also to the people of

the world. He volunteered in medical clinics and hospitals in Mexico, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Papua New

Guinea, Romania, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. The Ghanaian people touched his heart, and he returned to

volunteer at the Baptist Medical Center in Nalierigu twelve times, where he was adopted by the

community. Doctor Parkin realized that education was the answer to help care for his Ghanaian family

long-term. He paid for the tuition for numerous young people to attend nursing and medical school.

Creating a legacy of service and healing was one of his greatest joys.

But Doctor Parkin's life was filled with much more than medicine. He filled his life with laughter,

adventure, and faith. He was an avid fisherman, world traveler, gardener, lover of history and archeology,

humorous, a family man, and above all, a man of God. He and his wife Alice cherished 53 years of

marriage together. He was the proud father of Sterling and Amy and grandfather to Ashleigh. His large

Ghanaian family included Fusheni Shanu, who has visited Casa Grande several times. One of his greatest

joys was volunteering as a leader for the Boy Scout's Explorer Post Troop 2978, as he served as a mentor

and guide and was able to participate in adventures and shenanigans with Sterling and the boys.

Douglas was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Parkin and Grace Patterson Parkin. He

leaves behind his wife, Alice Mason Parkin, son Sterling Parkin and wife, Jennifer Boyer Parkin,

daughter Amy Parkin Kiefling and husband, Stephen Kiefling, granddaughter Ashleigh Archambault

Rankin and husband, Brent Rankin, sisters Eileen Altenhofer and Grace Covey, and numerous nephews,

nieces and cousins.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 1:30 p.m., at Trinity Southern

Baptist Church, at 1000 E. Trinity Place, Casa Grande, AZ. To honor his life of service, in lieu of flowers,

please donate to Seeds of Hope of Casa Grande (702 E. Cottonwood Ln., Casa Grande, AZ 85122) or the

Gila Valley Baptist Association (PO Box 10501, Casa Grande, AZ 85130) for the water well project in

West Africa