Quick Bio
| Full Name | Robert Lee Parton Sr. |
|---|---|
| Born | March 22, 1921 in Sevierville, Tennessee |
| Died | November 12, 2000 (Age 79) |
| Wife | Avie Lee Owens Parton (married 1939) |
| Children | 12 children (6 boys, 6 girls) |
| Famous Child | Dolly Rebecca Parton |
| Jobs | Sharecropper, Tobacco Farmer, Construction Worker |
| Known For | Being Dolly Parton’s father and inspiring the Imagination Library |
| Parents | Walter Parton and Bessie Rayfield |
Who Was Robert Lee Parton?
Robert Lee Parton was the father of famous country music singer Dolly Parton. He was a simple man who worked hard every day to take care of his big family. Even though he could not read or write, he became one of the most important people in Dolly’s life story.
Robert Lee, who everyone called “Lee,” was born on March 22, 1921, in the mountains of East Tennessee. He grew up during hard times when many families struggled to have enough food to eat. His parents were Walter and Bessie Parton, and they worked as farmers.
A Childhood Without School
When Robert Lee was a young boy, he had to work instead of going to school. This was normal for many children in farming families during that time. They needed every person in the family to help grow food and keep the farm running.
Robert Lee worked on farms from a very young age. He helped plant crops, take care of animals, and do all the hard work that farming needed. Because he spent so much time working, he never learned to read or write. This made him feel sad his whole life, but he never let it stop him from being a good father and a smart man.
Marriage and Family Life
In 1939, when Robert Lee was only 17 years old, he married a young woman named Avie Lee Owens. She was just 15 years old. They were very young, but their love was strong. Together, they built a life in the mountains of Tennessee.
Robert and Avie Lee had 12 children together. Their names were:
- Willadeene
- David Wilburn
- Coy Denver
- Dolly Rebecca (the famous singer)
- Robert Lee Jr. (Bobby)
- Stella Mae
- Cassie Nan
- Randel Huston (Randy)
- Larry Gerald (who died as a baby)
- Floyd Estel (twin)
- Freida Estelle (twin)
- Rachel Ann
Taking care of 12 children was not easy. The family lived in a small one-room cabin in the Smoky Mountains. They did not have much money, but they had lots of love.
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How Robert Lee Made Money
Robert Lee worked very hard to feed his family. He started as a sharecropper. A sharecropper is someone who farms land that belongs to another person. The sharecropper gives part of the crops to the land owner as payment for using the land.
Later, by 1951, Robert Lee was able to buy his own small piece of land. He grew tobacco and raised animals on this farm. Tobacco was an important crop in Tennessee, and many farmers grew it to make money.
But farming alone did not bring enough money for a family of 14 people. So Robert Lee also worked construction jobs. He would build houses and other buildings to earn extra money. He worked long hours every day, from morning until night.
Dolly Parton remembers that her father would come home with rough, tired hands from working so hard. She and her brothers and sisters would rub special lotion made from corn silk on his hands to help them feel better. This was their special time together as a family.
A Smart Man Who Could Not Read
Even though Robert Lee could not read or write, he was very smart. Dolly Parton always said her father was one of the smartest people she ever knew. He could count money perfectly. He knew how much things cost and how to make good business deals.
Robert Lee understood how to run a farm and make it work. He knew when to plant seeds, when to harvest crops, and how to sell them for the best price. His mind was sharp, and he could remember everything without writing it down.
He also knew how to fix things and build things with his hands. He was skilled at many different types of work. His children learned from watching him work hard and never give up.
The Pain of Not Being Able to Read
Even though Robert Lee was successful in many ways, not being able to read always made him sad. He felt “crippled” by not knowing how to read, as Dolly later explained. He wondered what his life could have been like if he had gone to school.
When his children brought home report cards or letters from school, he could not read them. When his family received mail, someone else had to read it to him. This made him feel left out of important moments.
But Robert Lee never complained. Instead, he made sure all his children went to school. He wanted them to have the education he never got. He encouraged them to learn and to follow their dreams.
The Birth of Dolly’s Imagination Library
In 1995, Dolly Parton started something special to honor her father. She created the “Imagination Library,” a program that sends free books to young children.
Dolly wanted to help children learn to love reading from a young age. She thought about how her father felt about not being able to read. She wanted to make sure no child would feel that way.
Here’s how the Imagination Library works:
- Children from birth to age 5 can sign up for the program
- Every month, they get a free book in the mail
- The books are chosen by education experts
- The books are perfect for each child’s age
- Everything is completely free for families
Dolly told her father about this idea, and he loved it. Before he died, he told Dolly that the Imagination Library was probably the most important thing she had ever done. This made Dolly very happy because she created the program just for him.
Today, the Imagination Library has sent out more than 200 million books to children around the world. It started in one small county in Tennessee and now works in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland.
Children who receive these books call Dolly “The Book Lady.” Robert Lee loved hearing people call his daughter this name. It made him very proud.
Life Lessons from Robert Lee
Robert Lee taught his children many important lessons:
Hard Work: He showed them that hard work is valuable and important. No job is too small if it helps your family.
Love and Family: Even when they were poor, the Parton family was rich in love. Robert Lee made sure his children knew they were loved.
Never Give Up: Even though life was hard, Robert Lee kept trying. He never stopped working to make things better for his family.
Be Smart in Different Ways: You don’t need to read books to be intelligent. Robert Lee proved that wisdom comes in many forms.
Help Others: Robert Lee was generous. When he retired, he even gave his lunch box to another worker who needed it.
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A Father’s Pride
Dolly Parton became one of the most famous singers in the world. She has written thousands of songs, acted in movies, and built a theme park called Dollywood. But to Robert Lee, the most special thing his daughter did was start the Imagination Library.
He lived long enough to see the program help thousands of children. He saw his daughter become “The Book Lady” who helped kids learn to read. This gave his own struggle with reading a special meaning and purpose.
Dolly believes that maybe God had a plan all along. Perhaps her father could not read so that one day, millions of children would get books because of his story.
The End of His Life
Robert Lee Parton died on November 12, 2000, at the age of 79. He died at the Baptist Hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee, after having several strokes.
His death happened just before Christmas, which made it extra sad for his family. But the family remembers him with love and happiness, not just sadness. They remember his strong hands, his smart mind, and his big heart.
He was buried in the beautiful mountains he loved. The same mountains where he worked, raised his family, and built a life full of meaning.
His Lasting Legacy
Today, Robert Lee Parton’s story continues to inspire people. Every time a child opens a book from the Imagination Library, they are touched by his legacy.
His story teaches us that everyone has value, even if they cannot do something that others can do. It shows us that being a good parent and working hard matters more than formal education.
Dolly Parton made sure the world would remember her father not just as “Dolly Parton’s dad” but as a man who changed millions of lives. Through her, his dream of literacy for all children is coming true.
At Dollywood theme park, there is a replica of the small cabin where Dolly was born. There are also memorials to both Robert Lee and Avie Lee. Visitors can see where this remarkable family started and understand how humble beginnings can lead to amazing things.
A Simple Man with a Big Impact
Robert Lee Parton was not famous. He was not rich. He could not read or write. But he raised a daughter who would touch the world with her music and her kindness.
He worked with his hands and loved with his whole heart. He showed his children that money does not make you rich—love does. He proved that you can be wise without books and successful without school.
Most importantly, Robert Lee Parton’s life shows us that our struggles can become someone else’s strength. His inability to read became the reason millions of children now receive books. His pain became their gain.
That is the beautiful story of Robert Lee Parton—a father, a farmer, a hard worker, and the inspiration behind one of the world’s greatest literacy programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. When was Robert Lee Parton born and when did he die?
Robert Lee Parton was born on March 22, 1921, in Sevierville, Tennessee. He died on November 12, 2000, at the age of 79 in Knoxville, Tennessee.
2. Why couldn’t Robert Lee Parton read or write?
Robert Lee grew up in a poor farming family. He had to leave school when he was very young to work on the farm and help feed his family. This was common for children in farming families during that time. Because he worked instead of going to school, he never learned to read or write.
3. How many children did Robert Lee Parton have?
Robert Lee and his wife Avie Lee had 12 children together—six boys and six girls. Dolly Parton is their fourth child and most famous daughter.
4. What jobs did Robert Lee Parton do?
Robert Lee worked as a sharecropper (farming someone else’s land), then later as a tobacco farmer on his own land. He also worked construction jobs to earn extra money to support his large family.
5. What is the Imagination Library?
The Imagination Library is a program started by Dolly Parton in 1995 to honor her father. It sends one free book every month to children from birth to age 5. The program has now sent over 200 million books to children in five countries.
6. Was Robert Lee Parton smart even though he couldn’t read?
Yes! Dolly Parton always said her father was one of the smartest people she knew. He was excellent at business, could count money perfectly, knew how to make good deals, and was skilled at farming and construction work.
7. Who was Robert Lee Parton’s wife?
His wife was Avie Lee Owens Parton. They married in 1939 when Robert was 17 and Avie was 15 years old. They stayed married until Robert died in 2000.
8. Did Robert Lee Parton see the success of the Imagination Library?
Yes! The Imagination Library started in 1995, and Robert Lee lived until 2000. He saw the program help thousands of children. Before he died, he told Dolly it was the most important thing she had ever done, which made her very happy.
9. Where did Robert Lee Parton live?
Robert Lee lived his whole life in East Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains area. He lived in Sevier County, where he raised his family in a small cabin on a farm.
10. How did Robert Lee Parton inspire Dolly Parton’s success?
Robert Lee taught Dolly the value of hard work, business sense, and determination. His inability to read inspired her to create the Imagination Library. He always encouraged her dreams and was proud of her success. Dolly says her father’s love and support helped make her who she is today.
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