Michael Leslie Parker

When hearts are broken by sudden and unexpected death, thoughtful words expressing the love, admiration, and gratitude felt for this person no longer in our physical midst can ease the grief and begin the healing.  Mike’s daughter, Sarah, has, with such thoughtfulness, painted a vivid picture of her father, one that his daughter, Carra, and his wife, Ann, agreed we wanted to share with others who knew him only slightly or who knew him well.  Herein is a window through which to understand  the fullness of the man who gave us his unconditional love, and whom we loved as deeply.

My dad, Mike, was a man who cared about details. He honored thoughtful, considered design, expertly made. Purposeful, skillful technical execution is what he valued. He shouldered the sanctity of the object, perfectly made for precise and decided purpose, but never without resounding beauty. He delighted in the whirling waves of wood grain and took very seriously his job to celebrate the voice of his chosen material. He thrived on a simple, delectable technical challenge— he set his own bar and honored its drive. Craft was paramount to this man.

Mike moved through this world with intention. Everything in its right place. Every knife was carefully sharpened. Each item in the closet hung in the same way. His bonsais were kept trim and were typically native species, with moss harvested thriftily from an off-path patch. He’d tear lettuce instead of cutting it, because the tender handling supposedly retains the nutrients.  Habitual and ritualized practices guided his daily goings on, and yet, there was plasticity there. He had hard rules as he moved through the world, but allowed them to be broken when the bend called for receptivity.

Mike enjoyed the quiet; that way he could delight in the windblown sound of chimes, and the methodical ticking of the clock. A walk in the woods with him wasn’t chatty; that way we could observe a grove of saplings, noting the way they had grown down hill from their origin. He was curious, seen in the way he observed— often, if you paid close attention, he was looking, thinking, critiquing, quietly working out the mechanics of why in his mind.

We give thanks for the life of Michael Leslie Parker.

Mike was born on November 28, 1953, and died on February 18, 2025. He was a devoted husband and father, a solid and dependable friend, a brilliant artist, and a master craftsman. Thoughtfulness and intentional professionalism were his guideposts. Mike honed his craft—woodworking and custom fabrication—for over 50 years. Mike and his wife, Ann, founded Eidolon Designs in 2001. Together, they worked side by side to create exquisite furniture and to engineer design solutions in homes, businesses and other architectural spaces in the greater Raleigh area. Mike held commitment to craft dear to his heart; as he had begun transitioning into retirement, he took comfort in knowing that Eidolon’s new generation of craftsmen would continue this legacy.

Mike is survived by his wife, Ann Cowperthwaite; his daughters, Carra Schriber (Michael), and Sarah Parker; Ann’s children, Will Scruggs (Katie) and Nicolle Maria Scruggs; and his grandchildren Simeon, Stevie, and Pace. He is also survived by his three brothers and three sisters: Joel (Ruth), Kathryn Wyatt (Thompson), Clarissa Spencer (Rick), Neal (Denise), James (Lene), and Bridget Wood (Mike), along with their children and grandchildren.

Mike had chosen a green burial Interment which will be held at Bluestem Conservation Cemetery located at 1900 Hurdle Mills Road, Cedar Grove, NC 27231 on Friday, February 28, 1:00 pm. All are invited. Please email Ann ( [email protected] ) if you would like to join us at Bluestem.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 1, at 1:00 pm, at Christ Episcopal Church, located at 120 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC 27601 . A reception will follow in the church parish hall.

If you wish to make a gift in Mike’s memory, trees may be planted through A Living Tribute