James Smiley Parker, Jr., 81, of Arcadia, Florida, passed away peacefully at his home on May 24, 2025.

Jim was born on January 27, 1944, to James Smiley Parker, Sr., and Nola Browning Parker in Arcadia, Florida.  He was raised on the prairie of Parker Brothers Ranch.  He spent much of his childhood with his mother's sisters, his Aunt "Scrap" (Isabel), Aunt "Puss" (Marie), and Aunt "Noggin" (Lenora).   One of his biggest childhood joys was bringing home turkeys and other game and fish to Aunt Scrap, Aunt Puss, and Aunt Noggin (it was one of theirs too).

He left the Ranch for High School, attending Georgia Military Academy, in Atlanta, Georgia.  After striking a deal with his classmate to escort his classmate's sister to graduation weekend, Jim found the love of his life, Frances (she had also found hers).

Jim and Frances were married on June 4, 1962, and went on to have two children, Cassandra and Lenora.

With Frances and the girls by his side, Jim graduated from the University of Florida with his Bachelors in 1965 and the University of Florida Law School in 1968.  Frances typed every one of his Law School papers on a typewriter and their girls were regulars on the Law School campus.  Jim joked that he used to bring the girls with him to meetings with his professors and that the professors would give him higher marks just so that the girls would stop ransacking the office.

After passing the Bar, Jim moved with his family to Jacksonville and then to Palmetto, where he served as an Assistant State Attorney, an Assistant Public Defender, and, later, in private practice, as a defense attorney.

In 1975, he was appointed by the Governor to serve DeSoto County as County Judge, and he and his family moved back to his beloved Arcadia.  In 1985, he was appointed by the Governor as Circuit Judge of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit of Florida, serving DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties.  He retired from the bench in 2015, after 40 years of service.

Jim enjoyed spending time with his family and friends—the countless stories too many to share—and could be found most nights of his adulthood "holding court" at the head seat of the dining room table.  He was always eager to listen and slow to anger.  His advice rarely was straightforward but gave anyone who he was giving it to the path to make their own decision.

Throughout his life, he enjoyed many of the simple things he enjoyed during his childhood—watching turkeys in the back pasture, teaching his grandchildren how to shoot a shotgun, and spending time in the peace of the woods, surrounded by those that he loved and that loved him.

Jim was a lifelong member of Trinity Arcadia Methodist Church and the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo Association.  He was also a Freemason and a member of the Elk's, DeSoto Cattlemen's Association, and Florida Farm Bureau.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, James Smiley Parker, Sr., and Nola Browning Parker, and his beloved Aunts and Uncles, Zeb and Ella Marie Browning Parker, Hooker and Isabel Browning Parker, Austin Parker, Accom and Olney Parker, Warren and Lenora Parker McLeod, Z.A. and Matilda Browning, and S.A. Browning.  He is survived by his wife, Frances Parker, daughters, Cassandra Holmes (Ted), and Lenora Brewer (Bob), five grandchildren, Danielle Brewer, Kalynn Babicz (Brad), James Brewer, Abigail Galati (Michael), and EmmaLee Holmes, four great-grandchildren, Preston Babicz, Austin Babicz, Jaymi Brewer, and Amelia Galati, and many extended family members from the Parker and Browning families of Arcadia.

A reception to provide condolences to the family will be held on Friday, May 30, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Ponger Kays Grady Funeral Home, 50 North Hillsborough Avenue, Arcadia, Florida.  Services will be held at Trinity Arcadia Methodist Church, 304 West Oak Street, Arcadia, Florida, on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with a graveside service to follow at Joshua Creek Cemetery, Arcadia, Florida.  Following the services, a Celebration of Life will be held at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo Mosaic Arena, 2450 Northeast Roan Street, Arcadia, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions honoring the memory of Judge James S. Parker be made to either the Arcadia All-Florida Championship Rodeo Association or Trinity Arcadia Methodist Church.

Online condolences can be made at pongerkaysgrady.com

Ponger-Kays-Grady Funeral Homes, Arcadia are in charge of the arrangements.