Jean (Parker) Bishop

Jean passed away peacefully on April 13, 2021.

Funeral is 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur with burial at Sweetwater Cemetery. Family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service.

Gerre Joiner will officiate. Pallbearers include Bryan Bishop, Nicholas Bishop, Casey Carter, Robert Hughes, Scott Waltz, and Robert Wages.

She was an accomplished attorney and mediator and participated in many local organizations.  She served as Wise County Attorney for several years.   She graduated from University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Math and Physics, and received her Juris Doctor Degree from Southern Methodist University in 1980. At SMU, she served as editor-in-chief of the Aviation Law Journal.

Jean was an excellent pilot, having gained her private pilot’s license at 17 and went on to receive her commercial pilot license and instrument rating. She was a lifetime member and Lt. Col. in the Civil Air Patrol and served as the Wing legal officer for 16 years. Flying skydivers brought her great joy.  She and her husband operated Skydive Texas in Decatur for many years.  She also participated in managing several successful business operations in the aviation industry.  Jean was always up for an adventure which resulted in unique experiences for her and her family.  From scuba diving to skydiving to risking being shot down flying through Cuban airspace as they would not acknowledge a female pilot on the radio.  For balance, she was an avid reader and loved relaxing with her dogs.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, William Vann and Carolyn Parker, her brother Ted Parker and her sister Anne Battle.  She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Tom, her children Sam Bishop (Militza), Laura Moore, Bobby Bishop (Kim), and Alex Bishop and her grandchildren Mackenzie, Bryan, Rolla, Nicholas, Kinley, Alexis and Kat.

There will be an online service available for those unable to attend in person.

The family requests memorials be made to a Civil Air Patrol Cadet scholarship fund.