The private Tennessee resident spent years building bridges, farming his homestead and enjoying the outdoors.
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Coy “Denver” Parton, an older brother of country music star Dolly Parton who lived largely outside the public spotlight, died July 23 in Sevierville, according to an obituary from Atchley Funeral Home. He was 82.
Parton worked for years as a crane operator and helped build bridges, the obituary said. He also maintained a homestead farm and enjoyed hunting. A cause of death was not disclosed, and the family plans to hold a private service at a later date.
Born Aug. 16, 1943, Parton was one of the 12 children of Lee Parton and Avie Lee Owens Parton. The family grew up in the mountains of East Tennessee, where Dolly Parton’s descriptions of poverty, faith and close family ties later became central themes in her songs and public life. Denver Parton, however, chose a quieter path and did not pursue the entertainment career followed by several of his siblings.
His sister Stella Parton described him as a deeply private person and thanked people for their condolences on behalf of his daughters, Chris and Jennifer, and the rest of the family. Dolly Parton had not issued a separate public statement about her brother’s death in the initial reports.
Denver Parton is survived by his daughters; his grandson, Ian Parton, and Ian’s fiancée, Taylor York; his brother, Bobby Parton; and his sisters, Willadeene Buzzeo, Dolly Parton, Stella Parton, Cassie Griffith, Freida Parton and Rachel George. The obituary also listed a sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins and several close friends among his survivors.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Parton; his parents; his infant brother, Larry Parton; and his brothers David, Randy and Floyd Parton. His niece Tever Parton and brothers-in-law Carl Dean and Ray Buzzeo also died before him, according to the obituary.
Several members of the Parton family became involved in music and entertainment. Dolly Parton rose from the family’s rural Tennessee home to become one of country music’s best-known singers and songwriters. Stella Parton also built a recording career, while Randy and Floyd Parton worked in music. Other siblings, including Denver Parton, maintained more private lives away from show business.
The death adds to several losses for the family in recent years. David Parton died in November 2024 at age 82. Randy Parton, a singer and musician who performed at his sister’s Dollywood theme park, died in 2021. Songwriter Floyd Parton died in 2018. Dolly Parton’s husband, Carl Dean, died in March 2025 at age 82 after nearly 60 years of marriage.
Stella Parton had previously spoken about the particular grief that follows the death of a sibling, saying the shared experience of growing up together can make such a loss difficult to accept. Her statement following Denver Parton’s death focused on protecting his privacy while acknowledging the messages of support sent to the family.
The family has not announced the date or location of the private service. No additional information about the circumstances of Denver Parton’s death had been released as of Friday.
Author note: Last updated July 31, 2026.