OBITUARY: Norman Parish
Norman Parish, 85, Herrin left this earth taking his final journey to eternal life at 3:30 p.m. on Sept. 5, 2013, at Herrin Hospital.
His family stayed by his side, rotating, as soon as Hospice of Williamson County was called in to help him. He was previously residing at Shawnee Christian Nursing Home in Herrin.
Norman was born to McKinley and Kate Parish on Jan. 5, 1928, in Harrisburg. His father passed away when our dad was only six months of age and even without a pattern to follow he made a really good dad and a good husband.
Norman married Deloris Powell on Dec. 24, 1949, and with that union four girls were born. Rebecca "Becky" O'Brien of Carbondale, Connie and Jim Oliver of Johnston City, Terri and Bill Wynn, of Herrin and Christy Sander and significant other Clifford Odgen of Herrin.
Norman was blessed with five grandchildren, Scott Stacey of Herrin, Amy Krulikowki and husband Tim of Sanford, N.C., Derek Wynn and Meghan Triplett of Denver, Colo., Shawn Thompson and wife Ashley of Herrin and Brooke Herrin of Herrin. Additional grandchildren, Joey Wallace, Larry Sanders, Anali Sanders and Dylan Wallace are all a huge part of our extended family.
Great-grandchildren include, Echo-Belou Nickols and Thurston Krulikowski, Dylan and Madison Stacy all of Sanford, N.C., Abigail Thompson of Herrin, Mia Lacey of Denver, Colo., and yet to be born Baby Wynn in 2014.
He is also survived by brother-in-law Darrell and wife Nancy Powell, of Harrisburg.
Norman was always a source of joking and kidding around with his nieces and nephews. As Dad got older the players grew up and gave it back to him at every chance they got.
Our family moved to Herrin approximately in 1964 for Dad's employment at Allen's Industy where he was a maintenance man for 28 years. He retired two days before the plant shut down.
He graduated eighth grade and being the last remaining son of seven children, he started working at Isle Weaver's gas station to help support his family. Later he worked at Rude's Motors in Harrisburg as a mechanic, a coal mines in Lebanon, and back to Rude's before to Herrin.
Our dad hunted and fished as a younger man and manicured his lawn to perfection until his health began to fail him. He was an avid Cub's fan (God Bless his heart) and could fix anything. He never quit at anything he set his mind to. His grandkids affectionately referred to him as "Stormin Norman." Most everything was done his way to keep the peace. He was the hardest working dad we knew but he always made us happy with the extras he would come up with for four girls. He was outnumbered from the get go, first with sisters then with daughters.
Our family would like to extend our thanks to all the employees at Shawnee Christian Nursing Home, especially Toni, Ranyee, and Ben and to Hospice who came in as soon as they were called.
Dad will miss all of his friends from Allen's and he constantly checked his long list of employees over all these years. He could tell stories about them for hours.
Those awaiting him in Heaven are his mom and dad; sisters, Juanita (Bill) Thomason, Naomi (Charles) Boone, Theda (Loren) McMeen, Mildred (Charles) Banks; brothers, James (Dorothy) Parish, and Ernest Parish; his mother and father-in-law, Floyd and Thelma Powell; two nephews; his son-in-law, Larry Sanders; and his very good friends, Mason Watson and Walter Stricklin.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013, at Reed Funeral Chapel in Harrisburg. Kenny Byron and Russell Powell will officiate and burial will follow in Ingram Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013.
Condolences may be sent to the family through the obituary page at www.reedfuneralchapel.com.