Julie Ann Mayhew Parton

Julie Ann Mayhew Parton passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 10:50 am after a very long and brave battle with breast cancer.

She was born April 22, 1966 in Pontiac, MI to Donald Lee Mayhew and Patricia Susanne Mayhew. They soon moved back to Carrier Mills where she spent the rest of her life. She graduated from CMHS with the class of 1984 and from SIU in 2002 with a bachelor degree in workforce education. She finally married her high school sweetheart Joe Parton on January 1, 2001 after many years of courting.

She had planned to teach home economics, but instead went to work for the Harrisburg Public Library and truly loved working there. However, her health soon kept her from working outside the home so she focused herself on her crafts and hobbies while being there to support her husband and son in everything they did.

Already extremely gifted at crocheting she soon expanded her interests to making and selling home-made soap, calling her company "The Soap Opera". A serious car accident soon changed her life once again and as she recovered she returned to her love of crocheting. Helping her through recovery was her beloved kitten "Squirty Poo" who she rescued along with his mother "Nala". Squirt was her constant companion through thick and thin until the end. After being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2011 she discovered her love of raising pet chickens. She and Joe constructed the "Coupe de Ville" in 2012 and she became the Head Hen !

The year 2011 also saw her only son Joshua marrying his true love Emily Ann Salzman. That provided much joy for Julie, but not as much as the arrival of grandchildren Vivian Rose in 2013 and Samuel Jacob in 2015. They loved their Nana and she loved them more than they will ever know.

She was diagnosed again in 2015 with a recurrence of her breast cancer. This time proved to be a much tougher fight. After surgery and many many rounds of chemo and radiation she finally lost the battle but she NEVER gave up the fight !

She was also Prince's number one fan and was devastated by his death.

Julie was preceded in death by her Mother Patricia Mayhew and her grandparents.

Julie is survived by her husband Joe of Carrier Mills. Son and daughter-in-law Joshua and Emily Parton, Grandchildren Vivian Rose and Samuel Jacob Parton all of Columbus, IN. Father Donald Mayhew of New Burnside. Aunt Phyllis June Joyner of Harrisburg. Cousins Kera Wise of Carrier Mills, Curtis Randolph of Louisville KY, Bill Wright of Harrisburg and John Wright of Harrisburg.

She is also survived by her beloved Squirty Poo, Nala, Big Bird, Felicia, Olivia, Lola, Sophie, Martha and Betty.

Visitation will be held be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday July 22, 2016 at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday July 23, 2016 at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. The Reverend Harl Cockrum will officiate.

At Julie's request, cremation will follow the service. Burial of the cremains will be in the Salem Cemetery at a later date.

Julie requested that flowers please be omitted. The preferred choice of remembrance would be memorials to the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Julie Ann Mayhew Parton

Passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Wednesday July 20, 2016 at 10:50 am after a very long and brave battle with breast cancer.

She was born April 22, 1966 in Pontiac, MI to Donald Lee Mayhew and Patricia Susanne Mayhew. They soon moved back to Carrier Mills where she spent the rest of her life. She graduated from CMHS with the class of 1984 and from SIU in 2002 with a bachelor degree in workforce education. She finally married her high school sweetheart Joe Parton on January 1, 2001 after many years of courting.

She had planned to teach home economics, but instead went to work for the Harrisburg Public Library and truly loved working there. However, her health soon kept her from working outside the home so she focused herself on her crafts and hobbies while being there to support her husband and son in everything they did.

Already extremely gifted at crocheting she soon expanded her interests to making and selling home-made soap, calling her company "The Soap Opera". A serious car accident soon changed her life once again and as she recovered she returned to her love of crocheting. Helping her through recovery was her beloved kitten "Squirty Poo" who she rescued along with his mother "Nala". Squirt was her constant companion through thick and thin until the end. After being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer in 2011 she discovered her love of raising pet chickens. She and Joe constructed the "Coupe de Ville" in 2012 and she became the Head Hen !

The year 2011 also saw her only son Joshua marrying his true love Emily Ann Salzman. That provided much joy for Julie, but not as much as the arrival of grandchildren Vivian Rose in 2013 and Samuel Jacob in 2015. They loved their Nana and she loved them more than they will ever know.

She was diagnosed again in 2015 with a recurrence of her breast cancer. This time proved to be a much tougher fight. After surgery and many many rounds of chemo and radiation she finally lost the battle but she NEVER gave up the fight !

She was also Prince's number one fan and was devastated by his death.

Julie was preceded in death by her Mother Patricia Mayhew and her grandparents.

Julie is survived by her husband Joe of Carrier Mills. Son and daughter-in-law Joshua and Emily Parton, Grandchildren Vivian Rose and Samuel Jacob Parton all of Columbus, IN. Father Donald Mayhew of New Burnside. Aunt Phyllis June Joyner of Harrisburg. Cousins Kera Wise of Carrier Mills, Curtis Randolph of Louisville KY, Bill Wright of Harrisburg and John Wright of Harrisburg.

She is also survived by her beloved Squirty Poo, Nala, Big Bird, Felicia, Olivia, Lola, Sophie, Martha and Betty.

Visitation will be held be held from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday July 22, 2016 at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Saturday July 23, 2016 at the Absher-Nicholson Funeral Home in Carrier Mills. The Reverend Harl Cockrum will officiate.

At Julie's request, cremation will follow the service. Burial of the cremains will be in the Salem Cemetery at a later date.

Julie requested that flowers please be omitted. The preferred choice of remembrance would be memorials to the American Cancer Society. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.