Michael Anthony Parks

Michael Anthony Parks transitioned from his earthly home on July 6, 2020 at Truman Medical Center. His loving grandmother, Odessa Parks and a special uncle, Reginald Dewayne Parks-El., preceded him in death.

Born Michael Ray Byron to Naomi Nunnlley on May 24, 1996, Michael was placed into the custody of the Missouri Division of Family Services: Children’s Division. At the tender age of six weeks, Michael was transferred to the foster home of Sonya Renee Parks. Sonya adopted Michael at the age of one and he was officially welcomed into the Parks Family. He was renamed Michael Anthony Parks after her younger brother, who faithfully served as a role model and his surrogate father. Michael achieved “rock star status” in the Parks Family and was his grandmother’s bright and shining star and Sonya’s pride and joy. 

Affectionately known as Mikey by family and close friends, he drew in everyone that he encountered with his infectious smile and inviting personality. To know Michael was to love him. He possessed many endearing qualities and exemplified the Fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and temperance in his daily Christian walk. Michael received his spiritual foundation at Cleveland Avenue Baptist Church under youth minister Pastor Michael Hancock.

Mikey was blessed with many gifts and talents. He began swimming at the age of three under the guidance of Winnie Ayers at the Linwood YMCA. Because of her instruction, he was able to go on to become an exceptional swimmer who swam competitively for The Kansas City Storm Swim Team and for Rockhurst High School. Michael was an avid chess player and learned to play the piano under the tutelage of Ramona Newsome. He always professed to have a photographic memory, but somehow could never remember to clean his room. Michael was a mathematician, a computer whiz and enjoyed repairing electronic devices. 

Michael was a fashion enthusiast who had a great sense of style. You could catch him singing or humming a tune every now and again. He enjoyed listening to different genres of music, riding his motorcycle, playing video games, roller-skating at Winnwood Skate Center, working on cars, and spending time with his family and close friends.

Michael was afforded the opportunity to attend the most prestigious private schools in the Kansas City area and excelled academically in the private school sector. He attended the Paseo Baptist Learning Center, Notre Dame de Sion, and Rockhurst High School. Michael enjoyed learning and maintained perfect attendance from first to tenth grade. Upon the completion of his junior year at Rockhurst, Michael transferred to Paseo High School of Fine and Performing Arts to nurture his passion for creative writing where he matriculated in 2014. While attending Paseo, he participated in the Writers Place and his poems were published in the National Anthologies “In Our Own Words”. In addition, Michael posted the highest Math, Science, English and Language Arts assessment test scores of Paseo’s 2014 Senior Class. After graduating, he attended one year at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas to pursue a degree in Microelectronic Engineering. 

As a youth, Michael was employed with Target, Midwest Pool Management, Brush Creek Community Center and the Linwood YMCA as a lifeguard, swim instructor, assistant swim team coach, and Aquatic Facility Manager. Michael began working full-time with the United States Postal Service after his first year at Kansas State. At the time of his death, he worked as a Core Data Assessment Administrator at Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy. 

Michael may have been small in stature, but he had the biggest heart. Whenever Sonya and Michael would part company she would say, “I love you, Mikey”. He would reply, “I love you more” and “I love you to infinity and beyond”. Sonya would lovingly respond, “I love you forever and for eternity!” He showed love and compassion to everyone, especially his children. The way that he cared for his children was not the exception but the rule. Michael was a great father. He nurtured his children and cherished every moment that he spent with them.   

Left to cherish his memory, his devoted mother Sonya R. Parks; Kansas City, MO., surrogate father Michael Anthony Parks (Lisa), children Michael Anthony Parks, Jr., Malachi Adrian Parks, 

Ma’ Khari Azikiel Parks and Mahlani Alaijah Renee Parks; Mother of his children Jai Haskell; sister; Diamond Jade Parks and nephew; Jaiden Michael Frazier. Uncles; Ernest (Linda) Parks, Hopkinsville, KY; Richard (Karen) Parks; Harbor City, CA; Andre (Joyce) Parks El, Shane Parks; Independence, MO; Dr. Jackie Baston and Greenberry El. Aunts; Ernestine Franklin, Robin Parks, Deborah Parks El; Deborah (Herman) Munson; Barbara Johnson; Valeria Williams; and Gloria Kittrell. Special cousins; Ernest Parks, Marcus Parks, Kayla Parks, Amber Parks, and Alexandra (Neil) Niederhauser. Best friends; Mike Lee Jones, Michael Lewis, Beric Walker and a very special friend; Promise Warner. Finally, his biological family and a host of other cousins and friends

Due to the COVID-19, please respect social distancing and face covering guidelines.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Anthony Parks, please visit our floral store.