PARKES, Warren Thomas

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Sunday, October 22, 2006 Warren Thomas Parkes, 38, died last week doing what he loved. On October 18, 2006, Warren and four close friends were killed in an airplane accident while on an air-to- air photography mission for the Arizona Skyfest. Now, family and friends are gathering to celebrate the beautiful life he led. Warren was born October 21, 1967, at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Ariz., and lived most of his life in Arizona. Raised in Prescott, he attended Prescott Public Schools, where he developer an early interest in astronomy and things scientific. Active in Boy Scouting, he attended Philmont Boy Scout Ranch twice, once as a youth and again as an adult. Warren graduated from Prescott High School in 1985. After completing a successful proselytizing mission in Wisconsin and Arizona for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Warren returned to earn an Associates Degree from Yavapai College and subsequently graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Arizona. He returned home to open PhotoGraphix, a photography and graphic design business. After eight successful years, Warren sold the company and started the design firm Wild Blue Studios. Following an early interest in aviation, he earned his Private Pilot Certificate, and went on to serve two years as the Executive Director of the Arizona Skyfest airshow in Prescott. In his short time on this earth, Warren lived life to the fullest. He was a passionate seeker of truth, an intrepid adventurer, and an insatiably curious student of our unimaginably vast universe. Warren was a true renaissance man a writer and photographer, graphic designer and businessman, a poet, a pilot, a choral singer, and adjunct professor of astronomy and history. Above all, Warren was a conservationist and humanitarian who always put people first. Warren is survived by his wife Betsy, his parents Kaaren and Tom; his sisters Linnea, Rowane, and Corrine; his dog Clark; a large extended family, including two nieces and four nephews, and many close friends. A celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 24, 2006. Friends and acquaintances are invited to join the celebration to be held in the NorthAire hangar at the Prescott airport. In lieu of flowers, friends are invited to contribute to The Warren Parkes Fund, established in his honor to support causes dear to his heart. Donations can be sent to The Warren Parkes Fund, Wells Fargo Bank. Hampton Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements. Information provided by survivors.