John Wesley Parker

John Wesley Parker, of League City, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at his home in League City, Texas at the age of 55.

Memorial service will be at 2pm on Saturday, May 31st, 2025, at Dossman Funeral Home, Belton, Texas

John was born on December 8, 1969, in Temple, Texas, to John Wayne and Cathy Parker. He graduated from Dalton College with an Associate Degree in Physics, and from Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelor degree in Industrial Engineering. He was pursuing a Masters Degree in Engineering Management from University of Texas and was in his last semester before he had to withdraw to focus on his cancer treatment.

He began his career at SAP in 1997 where he met his beautiful wife Meiling in 1999. John was one of the most reliable, kind-hearted, thoughtful, and optimistic individuals we worked with. His knowledge, respect, and thoroughness left a lasting impression on everyone who crossed his path. John had an extraordinary ability to take on even the most complex projects and tasks with confidence and precision, always ensuring they were executed to the highest standard. His meticulous attention to detail was truly unmatched, and his work consistently reflected his commitment to excellence.

John was admired for his technical expertise and deeply respected and well-liked for his humility, warmth, and respect to everyone around him. Colleagues consistently spoke highly of him, not just for his professional capabilities but for his kindness and sincerity to every interaction. While much of his career was spent as a high-performing individual contributor, what stood out most was his time as a people manager. John was a natural leader who genuinely cared about his team and prioritized their well-being and professional growth above all else. His support and encouragement inspired loyalty and dedication in return—his team members often went the extra mile, not because they had to, but because they wanted to for him. He created an environment where people felt valued and empowered to succeed. John’s legacy is one of quiet strength, compassion, and integrity, and he will be profoundly missed, both as a colleague and as a dear friend. John was incredibly patient, even in tough situations, and had an exceptional ability to foster win-win solutions, a rarity in the work world. Always positive and hopeful, he believed in achieving the best possible outcomes. Beyond his professional accomplishments, John was deeply invested in helping others advance their careers. He saw potential in people and had trust in “selling” their abilities to others, providing them with opportunities to grow and succeed.

John was also known for his unmatched thoroughness in documentation. He was the person you turned to when you needed something done right. His work was so meticulous that you never questioned its accuracy, he had already thought of everything. John was also someone who would tell you the truth, no matter what the situation, always with a smile on his face. Whether you knew him for years or had just met him, his positivity and warmth were constant, even during hard times. John shared a special bond with some of his coworkers particularly after facing challenges a few years ago. They talked often and supported one another, finding moments of solace and camaraderie even in difficult circumstances. One of his coworkers remembers how they would sneak off during events or customer visits to quietly share meals, slowly and thoughtfully, as they navigated their shared experiences. John’s presence was a source of comfort, and his ability to find joy and connection, even in adversity, was inspiring. John’s legacy is a reflection of his character—strong, kind, compassionate, and unwavering in his commitment to doing what was right. He will be deeply missed, but his impact on those who knew him will endure forever.

In 2010 John and Meiling joined Austin Yacht Club to pursue John's passion for sailing. John was a leader and a teacher, and his involvement at AYC allowed his abilities to shine through. It was at AYC where John first became interested in racing, and he started competing with his J24 sailboat in the local AYC races. During his time at AYC, John became J24 Fleet Captain, J24 District 14 Governor (overseeing Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana), as well as becoming a member of the AYC Board of Directors. John named his boat Chupacabra, a reference to Meiling's homeland in Puerto Rico, and they traveled thousands of miles towing their boat to regattas across Texas, as well as traveling to national and international events, competing in the J24 North American Championship in Toronto in 2016, and in the J24 Midwinter Championship in Miami in 2018. John's and Meiling's sailing adventures also took them to the Caribbean, where they chartered a boat with their sailing friends, and they sailed to many islands within St. Vincent and the Grenadines. One of John's lasting legacies is the many people he shared his joy of sailing with. John spent a lot of his time and effort teaching anyone and everyone how to sail a boat, as well as teaching them how to coach others in the sport. While in Austin, John was very involved in contributing to the UT Sailing Club and other programs for students and youth. He donated a J24 to the club, and actively helped the students restore the boat, practice, and compete in races. This boat, Jolly Bevo, competed all across the state of Texas, managed completely by UT students under John's mentorship. John was a kind mentor, one who was contagiously passionate, deeply impactful, and inspirational to anyone so lucky to have known him. There are many young sailors who have been heavily influenced by John, and many of them have gone on to continue his same work in other parts of the country and the world. In 2021 John and Meiling moved to Houston and joined Houston Yacht Club, where John continued his passion for sailing. During his time at HYC, John immediately got to work, helping to build up the local fleet and establish Houston Yacht Club as the home of J24 Fleet 5. Somehow, John always managed to find people interested in learning how to sail and race. As always, he used his powerful grace and patience to encourage them to keep trying and John seemed to always have room on his boat to bring them along. John also helped establish a non-profit called "Fleet Five Competitive Sailing", as a training community aimed at matching crew (new and old alike) with skippers and boats looking to get back on the water, and many of them are now consistently sailing and racing. During his time at Houston Yacht Club, John made everyone around him happy and eager to learn more about sailing and racing. HYC is seeing the benefits of John’s leadership and John's sailing friends look forward to many years of growing this community following John's vision.

John's sailing friends remember John as calm, confident, curious, kind, and deeply empathetic, and they were inspired by his love for and dedication to sailing, teaching, and his wife Meiling. The image burned in the minds of many of John's sailing friends is of John at the helm of his boat with Meiling at his side, John with his sunglasses and hat against a brilliant sun, reading the water, his boat, his crew, and making sure everyone was safe.

John is survived by his wife Meiling Ramos Parker, mother Cathy Curtis and her husband Lon Curtis, brother Robert Parker and his wife Jennifer Parker, his sister Jennifer Putnam and her husband Zac Putnam, nephews Easton Putnam, Marshall Putnam, Ethan Hooker, and niece Emery Hooker, aunts and uncles Anne and Jamie Sanderford, Mary Ann and Steve Jones, and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his father John Wayne Parker and his brother James William Parker.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Memorial Fund in memory of John Wesley Parker to the Friendswood Methodist Church at 110 North Friendswood Drive, Friendswood, TX 77546. or click on this link to donate, https://www.shelbygiving.com/App/Giving/frie110193