Stephen John Parker Sr., of Lunenburg, passed away peacefully on March 4, 2025, after a brief illness at age 62. He is survived by his parents, Ron and Carolyn Parker of Belmont and Chatham.
Stephen grew up in Lexington, where he was proud of his lineage relating him to Capt. John Parker. The later years of his childhood were spent living in Belmont. He began his farming career in Concord before settling in Lunenburg, where he established and ran Parker Farm for over 20 years. In addition to serving local customers, his farm produce was widely distributed to local restaurants, farmers markets, and Boston-area food pantries. He also was among the first in the area to institute Consumer Supported Agriculture (CSA). He was beloved by his farmers market customers and CSA shareholders, who looked forward to their weekly farm share and Stephen’s genuine warmth, listening ear, and humorous anecdotes. Stephen was passionate about farming and connecting with his customers. As a hobby, he enjoyed harvesting exotic mushrooms for himself and his customers’ appetite. He had a passion for cooking and enjoyed sharing recipes including the vegetables he grew. He was fond of fishing and watching sports, and he enjoyed listening to music, especially blues, bluegrass, gospel, rock, and heavy metal.
Farming was not his only passion. Stephen was a talented, self-taught musician, proficient in both bass guitar and drums. He was a founding member of several bands including “Strange Flesh,” as a drummer and vocalist, and “Steve the Farmer and the Murder Balladeers,” as lead guitarist and vocalist. He loved to share and teach music. His bands played at venues around the country, including Knoxville, Memphis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Providence, Burlington, and Boston. Steve had a wide circle of friends and left behind a legacy of service, astonishing grit, and an impeccable work ethic. He will always be remembered for his hard work, his sharp wit and cutting sense of humor.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his son, Stephen Jr., his former wife and friend, Heather, both of Concord; his sisters Laurie McKittrick (Michael) of Quincy and Julie Jordan (John) of Scituate; nephews John and Matthew Jordan and niece Hannah Jordan; as well as many cousins, especially John, Dean, David, and Karl Ivester, who were like second brothers to him. He is predeceased by his brother Ron of Fresno, California.
Donations in Stephen’s memory may be made to Lunenburg Community Food Pantry, lunenburgfoodpantry.org
A celebration of Stephen’s life will be held this spring.
