Kit Karson Parker Jr.

Kit Karson Parker Jr, a longtime resident of Natchitoches, La, passed away on Wednesday, March 18th, 2026, after a short illness.

Kit was born on May 3,1942 in Ferriday, Louisiana. He grew up in towns in Louisiana and Arkansas attending Pineville High School and graduating from Ferriday High School. He then began a long career in land and river surveying. First along the Mississippi River and later working on interstate highway construction up and down the East coast. He loved heights and was always volunteering to be the surveyor on new bridges over the Mississippi and Delaware rivers.

Eventually, when not traveling, Kit lived in Natchitoches and became a amateur photographer spending many Saturdays photographing the Northwestern Demons football games and the historic buildings of Natchitoches. When the Grand Ecore Visitor Center of the Corp of Engineers opened in 2004, Kit was a member of the initial Host team. He loved welcoming visitors from all over the country to the Center, sharing his knowledge of the Red River and Natchitoches history with them. He continued as a volunteer at the Center until his recent death. His priorities every month were to not miss the monthly “Young at Heart "luncheons and of course, the weekly seniors Sunday school. And coffee almost every morning at Whataburger.

Kit was predeceased by his parents, Kit Karson Parker Sr and Pauline Jordan Parker, also of Natchitoches. He is survived by his brother, Sam Parker and his wife Christine of Cranbury, New Jersey. And his nephew Jordan Parker and his wife Catherine of Concord, Massachusetts and their sons, his grandnephews: Sam John, William (Bo) George, and Nicolas Karson. Kit loved his town of Natchitoches and his many friends there. We, his family, are so grateful for all of your kindness.

The family has requested that no flowers be sent.