MATAWAN, N.J. – James Hill Parker, 68, of Aberdeen, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 3, at the Victoria House Health Center.

Born on Feb. 18, 1936, in Lewiston, he was the son of Donald F. and Theo E. Hill Parker. He was a graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn in 1954. He received his B. A. from Bates College, Lewiston in 1958; his M.A. from the University of Chicago in 1961, and his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1965.

He was the author of 13 published books on sociology and 30 published articles as well as many unpublished ones and was a pioneer researcher on the decline of the Franco-American culture and language in Maine.

He was also well-known as an accomplished accordion player while growing up in Auburn.

He was married to Alice Gay Wykle, of Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1960. She predeceased him in 1997.

He is survived by his mother, Theo Parker, of Auburn; a son, James W. Parker and his wife, Kathleen, and a daughter, Lisa L. Parker, as well as three grandsons, James W. Parker Jr. and Kyle and Christopher Furlong, all of New Jersey; a sister, Nancy P. Barley and her husband, William, of Kittery; as well as many nephews; several grand-nephews; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.