William Gary Parks, a well-known Eastern Shore house painter, died of a heart attack Jan. 20 at his Rock Hall home. He was 64.

Mr. Parks, the son of a merchant seaman and a homemaker, was born in Baltimore. He was raised in Hampden and with relatives in Rock Hall.

He attended city public schools and went to work as a painter for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 1970.

Mr. Parks returned to Rock Hall in 1990, where he worked at Washington College and then for several painting contractors.

His projects, family members said, included painting historic homes in Chestertown as well as the Town Hall and police headquarters.

He was semiretired at his death.

"He loved what he did and enjoyed every bit of it," said a daughter, Dawn Parks of Rock Hall. "His job helped him meet many people, and he established many friendships through his work."

He enjoyed going to Dover Downs in Delaware and watching Ravens games.

Services were held Jan. 24.

Also surviving are his wife of 35 years, the former Theresa Kolb; a son, William Parks of Baltimore; five other daughters, Mary Adams of Hurlock, April Parks and Kelly Parks, both of Chestertown, and Cindy Parks and Jennifer Parks, both of Rock Hall; two brothers, Tommy Parks of Rock Hall and Eddie Bell of Parkville; four sisters, Tina Rivera of Hanover, Pa., Pat Trimble of Baltimore, Dottie Burrows of Ocean City and Sandy Bittner of Owings Mills; 16 grandchildren; and a great-grandson.