James Parrish

James A. Parrish, 81, of Independence, MO went to be with his Lord and Savior, Sunday November 30, 2008 at Centerpoint Medical Center. Services will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, December 4, 2008 at the Speaks Suburban Chapel. Burial with full military honors will be 12:30 p.m., Thursday in Memorial Park Cemetery in Sedalia, MO. The family will greet friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday evening at the chapel. Donations may be made to the Building Fund at Sycamore Hills Baptist Church. James was born March 15, 1927 in Sedalia, MO to Lee S. and Lula Pearl (Franklin) Parrish. He had worked for over 30 years for the Pipe fitters Union local #533 in Kansas City until he retired in 1989. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and a friend to everyone he met. He enjoyed fishing, quail hunting, attending Army reunions with his former comrades and most of all spending time with his family. He was an active member of the Sycamore Hills Baptist Church and had served as a deacon. He was a member of the VFW in Buckner and was a 3rd Degree Mason in Independence Masonic Lodge. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in France and Germany. He was married to Evelyn (Ruffin) on July 2, 1949, she survives of the home. Other survivors include; 2 sons, David Parrish and his wife Diane of Leawood, KS and Don Parrish and his wife Kim of Blue Springs, MO; 5 sisters, Margaret Ferrell of Wichita, KS, Ila Nichols of Overland Park, KS, Betty Smith of Whittier, CA, Lu Knight of Florida and Doris Klein of Sedalia, MO; 6 grandchildren, Dana Thingelstad (Troy) Bryan Parrish (Casey), Stephen Parrish, Tyler Parrish, Trevor Parrish, Taylor Parrish; step grandchildren, Hillary, Emily and Michael Brown; 1 great grandson, Trey Thingelstad; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by, his parents, a son, Gary Parrish in 1955 a brother, Donald Parrish and a sister, Marjorie Taylor.