Lloyd Stephen Park, “Parky,” longtime Marfa resident and career Border Patrol agent, passed away February 2, 2025, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, at the age of 87.
Born into a military family in Des Moines, Iowa, to Francis C. and Adalyn C. Park on July 11, 1937, his early years were spent in Georgia, Japan and Panama. He graduated from Balboa High School in the Panama Canal Zone in 1955. He attended New Mexico State University, Texas Western (UTEP) and Sul Ross State University, earning a B.A. in music, B.S. in police administration and an M.A. in political science. He joined the El Paso Police Dept in 1959 but soon after joined the United States Border Patrol, attending the 81st Session of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy at Los Fresnos, Texas. He was stationed in El Centro, California, before moving to the Marfa sector in 1965.
While at Texas Western he met and married his wife of 50 years, Marfa native Kate Davis. Together they raised their six children and helped to raise their children’s friends who were always welcome in their lively home, day or night. Parky was a hands-on father who attended countless football, baseball, and softball games, twirling competitions, band concerts, heavy metal concerts, and Boy and Girl Scout events to support his children.
An avid motorcycle enthusiast, he started and ran the Round the River Rally in The Big Bend for over 15 years and raced enduro for almost 20 years. He was the master marksman for the Border Patrol and entered sharpshooter contests representing the Marfa Sector Headquarters. After retirement and Kate passing away, Steve found his love of travel again visiting new countries and continents every few months. He found love again and married Carol Abbott Park in 2016.
Parky is preceded in death by his parents, Francis C. Park and Adalyn C. Park, his first wife, Kate Davis Park; his first son, Patrick S. Park; and his second wife, Carol Abbott Park. He leaves behind his children, Paul Park and wife Sam of Arlington, Texas; Perry Park of Denver, Colorado; Pam Park Ozfidan of Richmond, Virginia; Penelope Park Bankston of El Paso, Texa; and Preston Park of Lake Havasu, Arizona; his grandchildren, Amanda Bankston, Brooke Bankston Henderson, Lin Allen, Blair Park, Jett Ozfidan, Jocelyn Ozfidan; great-grandson Camryn Henderson; and the many honorary Park kids of Marfa.