OBITUARY: Parley Kathryn Dabney Boswell

Parley Kathryn Dabney Boswell, age 88, of Harrisburg, passed away at 6 a.m. Friday, Aug. 17, 2012, at Harrisburg Medical Center.

Parley was born June 11, 1924, in Harrisburg, to the late Condy Houston and Ollie Lucretia (Mitchell) Dabney. On June 18, 1948, she married Arlie O. Boswell Jr. He preceded her in death on February 11, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Surviving family members include a son, Thomas H. (Mary Jane) Boswell of Rockford; daughter, Parley Ann Boswell (Kennedy Hutson) of Monticello; daughter, Mary Jane Boswell (Perri Holod) of Washington, D.C.; four grandchildren, Elizabeth (Adam) Ubben of Naperville, Bradley Boswell of Rockford, Boswell Hutson of Urbana and Mattie Jane Rush (Jai Springer and their son Najee Rush-Springer) of Gainesville, Fla.; along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

Parley was a member of the HTHS class of 1941, where she was the "S" in the Harrisburg Letter Girls. With Arlie, she helped establish Boswell Farms. She was a member of PEO and a past president of the Harrisburg Garden Club. She loved her "Meet and Eat" group, her coffee group and meeting her girlfriends for fish on Friday nights. She was proud to be a coal miner's daughter, and was especially proud of her East Tennessee roots. She loved visiting and traveling with her siblings through the years. She loved yard work, chocolate, "I Love Lucy," and being in Maui with Arlie. She adored her grandchildren. She loved to dance, especially tap. She could tap dance while holding a full cup of coffee and never spill a drop.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, at Reed Funeral Chapel. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, September 1, 2012, at the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, the Rev. Sam Foskey officiating. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, 34 W. Poplar St., Harrisburg, 62946. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent to the family through the obituary page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com