The Family Parmelee - Memorial Park: 2017

DONALD CHARLES PARMLEY 1943-2017

Donald [unplaced] died Sept. 20, 2017, in Tulsa, Payne County, Okla. He was born Jan. 19, 1943, in Yale, Payne County, Okla., and was a graduate of Will Rogers High School. He and Beverly A. Golden were married Nov. 24, 1962, in Orange, Orange County, Calif. Burial was at Tulsa's Memorial Park Cemetery.

DONALD DEE PARMLEY 1952-2017

Donald [Buford Weldon, Henry Franklin, Henson Greenland, Aladdin "Burg," John, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], who worked at Insurance Auto Auction for 27 years, died Sept. 14, 2017, at his home in Madison, Madison County, Ala. He was born Feb. 12, 1952, in Tampa, Hillsborough County, Fla., the son of Weldon and Frances (Myers) Parmley. Donald attended Elkton Baptist Church, enjoyed bird watching, yard sales, motorcycle rallies, and was on a pool league. He is survived by son Donald Jr. "D.J."; daughter Angela Lowrance; brothers Billy and Buford Parmley; sisters Sarah Kerry and Kathy Link; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brother Ronnie, and nephew Scott Parmley. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County.

EMMERT 'JESS' ORVAL PARMLEY 1923-2017

Jess [Emmert Orval, John Reed, John, Richard, Ephraim, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], a World War II veteran who parachuted into France the night before D-Day, died Jan. 8, 2017. He was born June 18, 1923, in Butterfield, Barry County, Mo., to Emmert and Violet Meda (Hankins) Parmley, the second of four children. He enlisted in the Army on Dec. 22, 1941, just 15 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. He volunteered to join the 101st Airborne Infantry that jumped into Normandy ahead of the Allied invasion of June 6, 1944, and received a Purple Heart for wounds sustained one week later. He returned home after his discharge on Nov. 22, 1945, and married his high school sweetheart, Billie Jauline England. They moved to Antioch, Contra Costa County, Calif., in 1946, started a family. Among his survivors are sons John, William and James; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife Billie; daughter Penny Rayner; brothers Gerald "Windy" and Donald "Butch"; and sister Johynee. Burial was at Antioch's Oak View Memorial Park. Donations may be made in his honor to Hospice of the East Bay.

EVELYN 'JACKIE' JAQUELINE (PARMELY) FOX 1936-2017

Jackie [Jackson "Jack" Reed, Jonathan "John" Reed, John Reed, John, Richard, Ephraim, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], a 36-year employee of General Dynamics/Lockheed, died Dec. 24, 2017, in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas. She was born March 20, 1936, in Avery, Wise County, Texas, to Jack and Lela Gertrude (Clark) Parmely. Jackie and Jimmy Darrell "J.D." Fox were wed Nov. 7, 1958, in Fort Worth. She retired from her job as a contract administrator in 1994, and traveled the world, visiting Europe, Australia, China and Vietnam. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Alvord, Wise County, Texas. Jackie is survived by sons Robert Fox of Winter Haven, Polk County, Fla., and Ben Fox of Orange Park, Clay County, Fla., and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death by J.D. Burial was at Alvord Cemetery. The Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur, Texas, was in charge of arrangements.

GENEVIEVE BERNICE (KRIEGER) PARMELEE 1928-2017

Genevieve, a resident of Brookfield, Fairfield County, Conn., and widow of Arthur L. Parmelee [Harry L., Walter "Scott" Scott, Charles W., Timothy Enoch, Jeremiah, Timothy, Mark, Job, John, John], died Jan. 9, 2017. She was born April 25, 1928, in Middletown, Middlesex County, Conn., the daughter of Ludwig and Natalie (Koss) Krieger. Genevieve was a member of Faith (formerly St. Paul) Lutheran Church in Middletown. She enjoyed gardening, bird-watching, music and photography. Among her survivors are son Jeffrey of Middletown; daughter Susan L. Hesse of Brookfield; brother Roy Krieger of Middletown; and four grandchildren. Burial was at Middletown's Pine Grove Cemetery. Doolittle Funeral Home of Middletown was in charge of arrangements. Donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Resource Center of Connecticut, 1261 S. Main St., Plantsville, CT 06479, or the American Parkinson Disease Association, CT Chapter, 27 Allendale Drive, North Haven, CT 06473.

HASKEL BENNY PARMLEY 1936-2017

Haskel [Haskel "Jack" Du Bose, William Giles, Henson Greenland, Aladdin "Burg," John, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], a long-time butcher and resident of Red Bank, Hamilton County, Tenn., died April 12, 2017, at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, Tenn. He was born June 19, 1936, in Tracy City, Grundy County, Tenn., to Jack and Rachel (Carrick) Parmley. Haskel had a faithful clientele at the Home Stores in Chattanooga, then Red Food and later Bi-Lo. He was a 1954 graduate of Grundy County High School. Haskel is survived by wife Nancy Lou (Grooms); sons Jason B. of San Diego, San Diego County, Calif., and Jonathan G. of Red Bank; daughter Jennifer J. Parmley of Tracy City; brothers Tom M. of Aurora, Arapahoe and Adams counties, Colo., David of Powder Springs, Cobb County, Ga., and Carlton of Tracy City; sister Sally C. Brown of Tracy City; grandchildren Jennifer L. Flanery, and Audra and Abbie Parmley; and a great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by brother Robert S. and sister Ann Hayes. Burial was at Fall Creek Cemetery at Gruetli-Laager, Grundy County, Tenn. The Foster and Lay Funeral Home of Tracy City was in charge of arrangements.

JAMES ERNST PARMLEY 1909-2017

Jim [Henry Stephen, James Knox Polk, Stephen, John, John, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], a Western Union teletype operator who became a long-time air traffic controller, died Dec. 4, 2017, at his home in Frisco, Collin County, Texas. He was 108; his mother, Nancy Mabel (Curtis) Parmley, lived to 103; his grandmother, Julia Ann (Cable) Parmley, lived to 101. Jim was born in Camden County, Mo., the son of Henry Stephen and Nancy Mabel (Curtis) Parmley, on Aug. 25, 1909. Eight years later, the family moved to Payne County, Oklahoma, first in Norfolk, and then in Yale. Jim moved to Tecumseh, Pottawatomie County, Okla., his senior year and graduated there in 1928. After a brief stint at Western Union, he worked as an air traffic controller in Oklahoma, California and Alaska, whose beauty he enjoyed from his private plane. His interests included books, politics and the Old West. He was a gifted artist and pianist. He celebrated his 100th birthday in Cancun, Mexico, where he swam with dolphins and parasailed. At 104, he took his first Amtrak trip, and two years later embarked on a Caribbean cruise. At 105, he began writing his memoirs and recorded an interview with the Generations Broadcast Center. Asked at the end of the session for advice for future generations, he replied: "Care for everyone, every soul you meet." Jim is survived by his fourth wife, Sarah (Scruton); daughter Patricia of Houston, Harris County, Texas; four stepdaughters; and various nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by wives Esther (Argenbright) and Lillian (Belyea) Parmley; brother George L.; half-brother Louis N.; and sisters Martha Ripley and Marye McGurk.

JANETTE MARY (LOEWEN) PARMELY 1953-2017

Janette, wife of Timothy Lee Parmley [Temalian "Moley" Cravlin, Robert "Doc" E. Lee, Chrisman, Aladdin, Garner, John, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John] and a longtime resident of Florence, Marion County, Kan., died Dec. 13, 2017, at Peabody Health and Rehab in Peabody, Marion County, Kan. She was born Feb. 28, 1953, to Paul and Darlene (Davis) Loewen in Hillsboro, Marion County, Kan. In addition to her husband, survivors include sons James of Cedar Point, Chase County, Kan., and Travis of Great Bend, Barton County, Kan.; sister Mashawn Weber of Florence; and three grandchildren. Sister Paulette Zook preceded her in death. Burial was at Hillcrest Cemetery, Florence. A memorial has been established with Zeiner Funeral Home, P.O. Box 6, Marion, KS 66861, to assist with funeral expenses.

JOSEPHINE MAE (PARMLEY) JENS 1925-2017

Josie [Lockey, James A., Garner "John" J., Richard, Ephraim, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], a restaurant worker and private housekeeper, died Oct. 8, 2017, in Sioux Falls, Minnehaha County, S.D. She was 92. She was born and raised on the family farm near the Vermillion River in the area near Canistota, McCook County, S.D., to Lockey and Helen (Morrison) Parmley. Josie attended country schools, and then moved to Sioux Falls where she worked for various restaurants and cafes. After she and Vernon P. Jens were married Jan. 31, 1948, Josie worked for the Sport Bowl Café and the Normandy Restaurant. The couple enjoyed attending dances, country drives and regularly visited Humboldt and Canistota, where they would reminisce about earlier times. They also enjoyed fishing at the Vermillion Lake near Josie’s former farmstead. After her husband’s death in 1996, Josie retired to spend time with her family. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, Josie was preceded in death by brothers Harvey, Ellis, Earl, Roy and Carl, and sisters Lena Carpenter Suckow Henderson Shaner, Ethel Nordstrom and Ann Wittrock. Burial was at Sioux Falls' Hills of Rest Cemetery. The Miller Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

LINDA LEE (BETTENCOURT) PARMLEY 1950-2017

Linda, who worked at the Stanislaus County Clerk Recorder Office for 19 years and was the wife of Ernest Lee Parmley [Garnett Flavious, Joseph Ephraim, James Ephraim, Ephraim, Garner, Richard, Ephraim, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], died in late January, 2017, in Crows Landing, Stanislaus County, Calif. She was born in April, 1950, the daughter of Manuel and Victoria Bettencourt, in Turlock, Stanislaus County, Calif., and was a graduate of Hilmar High School. Linda loved working in her garden and rooting for the '49ers. In addition to her husband, she is survived by son John Hipolito; brothers Norman, Marlin and Mark; and sister Yvonne Dyrland. Contributions can be made in Linda's name to the American Cancer Society. Allen Mortuary of Modesto was in charge of arrangements.

MARGARET ANN (HANSEN) PARMLEY SONNTAG 1944-2017

Margaret, whose first husband was the late David Mark Parmley [Charles Lester, Lester Dea, Myron Bryan, Richard Franklin, Dennis A., Lemuel, Jeremiah, Lemuel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], died March 6, 2017, at the Heritage House in Atlantic, Iowa County, Iowa. Over the years she was a Sunday school teacher, substitute organist, and served in various positions at the Brayton Evangelical Lutheran Church. She was born April 14, 1944, to Wilbert and Eva (Plambeck) Hansen in Atlantic. Margaret was a member of the Class of 1962 at Exira High School where she played clarinet in the band and sang in the choir. After graduation, Margaret moved to Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, and was a clerk underwriter for the American Insurance Co. She and David Parmley were married in 1963 at the Brayton church, and lived in the Exira-Brayton area. Margaret worked at the Valley Restaurant from 1966 to '79. From 1979 to '84 she worked in accounting for Wheeler Distributing in Exira, and then at Henningsen Construction until she retired in 2007. Also from 1994 to 2007, she worked at the Pine's Steakhouse and Oinker's lounge. David and Margaret traveled throughout the United States. After his death in 2005, Margaret moved to Atlantic, Iowa County, Iowa, and the following year she and Marvin Sonntag were wed and made their home there. They visited Denmark, Germany and several other countries, enjoyed cruises to Alaska, Mexico, Hawaii and the Panama Canal, and camping and hiking in the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks. Margaret was a member of the Atlantic Business and Professional Women's Organization, and held several local offices in the organization as well as being a state committee chair. She was an avid bowler, a charter member of the Exira Community Band, and enjoyed her monthly breakfasts or dinners with her high school pals. After given an ALS diagnosis in 2013, she fulfilled her dream of skydiving, and enjoyed her water therapy classes at the YMCA. Survivors, in addition to her second husband, include son Clark Parmley of Springfield, Greene County, Mo.; daughter Renee Lehman of Granger, Dallas County, Iowa; grandchildren Nicholas Parmley of St. Robert, Pulaski County, Mo., William Lehman and Andrew Tucker Lehman, all of Granger; brothers Maynard and Larry; stepchildren Todd, Steven and Dennis Sonntag, and Becky Willrich; and step-grandchildren Michael, Meaghan, Joseph, Dillon, Alex, Brooklyn, Reagan, Chase Sonntag, and Lily Willrich; and her step-great-grandson Milo Sager. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery west of Brayton; the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira was in charge of arrangements. Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery west of Brayton. Memorials may be directed to Renee Lehman at 2039 Vista View Drive, Granger IA 50109.

MARHYIAH LEA PARMLEY 1994-2017

Marhyiah [Roy Francis, Roy Francis, Floyd "Cowboy" William, Floyd B., William E., William Henry, John, Richard, Ephraim, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John] was killed when her SUV was struck by a suspected drunk driver July 27, 2017, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Okla. She was born Oct. 25, 1994, in Stillwater, Payne County, Okla., and raised in Perry, Noble County, Okla.; Cushing, Payne County, Okla.; and Oklahoma City, graduating in the Cushing High School class of 2014. Marhyiah attended the First Church of God. She loved playing musical instruments, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and sports -- her favorite teams were the Chicago Cubs and Dallas Cowboys. She is survived by parents Roy Parmley and fiancée Lorene, and Regina and John Cooksey; brothers Derieck Kelly of Tulsa, Tulsa County, Okla., and Roy Parmley of Stillwater; sisters Mary Mochel of Overland Park, Johnson County, Kans., and Loretta Parmley of Okmulgee, Okmulgee County, Okla.; grandparents Loretta Cooksey and husband Gerald of Cushing, James Ross Sr. of Decatur, Macon County, Ill., Gerrie Stephens and husband Bobby of Stillwater, Jessie and Andy Newton, and stepgrandparents Howard and Barbara Cooksey of Stillwater; great-grandmothers Ruby Harrison of Perry and Magdaline Brown of Decatur; boyfriend Joseph Castor and son Jesse. The Davis Funeral Home of Cushing was in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be given to the First Church of God's Operation Christmas, 501 N. Noble Ave., Cushing OK 74023.

MARION WAYNE PARMLEY 1936-2017

Wayne [Thaddeus "Gene" Eugene, Thaddeus "Thad" McCall, William Harrison, Robert, Robert, John, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John] died May 17, 2017, at his home in Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, surrounded by his family. He was born Feb. 14, 1936, to Thaddeus and Wilva (Whitlock) Parmley in Channing, Hartley County, Texas. He served as a Marine during the Korean War. Wayne is survived by wife Carol; son Mike of Houston, Harris County, Texas; daughters Lee Anne Hays of Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, and Kelly Gaither of Austin, Travis County, Texas; brother Brownlow "Brownie," sister Thadine Stoker of Alexandria, Rapides Parish, La.; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Burial was at Corpus Christi's Coastal Bend State Veterans Cemetery. Saxet Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to New Century Hospice through the Grace Hospice Foundation. The family wishes to thank MD Anderson and New Century Hospice. Special thanks and appreciation go to Norma, Belinda and Chaplain Tim at New Century Hospice.

OLIVER 'TUT' WOLCOTT PARMLY 1926-2017

Tut [Eleazar "Zar," Eleazar "Ellie," Eleazar, David W., Eleazar, Jehiel, Stephen, Stephen, John, John], a third-generation graduate of West Point who augmented his life in the military and the private sector with public service, died Feb. 4, 2017, after a stroke at his home in Richmond, Chittenden County, Vt. Tut was born June 21, 1926, in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vt., the son of Eleazar and Dorethe (Heilberg) Parmly. In 1950, he graduated West Point, wed Irene "Nini" Mossman in Holyoke, Hampshire County, Mass., and drew his first assignment: Panama. Further assignments led the family to Oklahoma and Georgia, where he received his Master of Science from Georgia Tech. He resigned his commission in 1960 and returned to Burlington to work for General Electric where he made a major contribution to the development of the Vulcan Air Defense System, which is credited with saving many American lives during the Vietnam War. Tut was employed at Shelburne Industries from 1967 to '69, and returned to GE where he stayed until his retirement in 1991. He returned to the workforce a decade later as a personal security specialist with Homeland Security, and retired from there in 2013. Over the years, he volunteered with the Gideons, counseled for SCORE, served as a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts, was a local school board director, served as treasurer of the Vermont School Boards Assn., and was active in his church as Sunday school teacher, deacon, and treasurer. He lent his rich baritone voice to the West Point Glee Club, church choirs, and the Burlington Oratorio Society. Tut served as justice of the peace, had a seat on the Richmond Board of Civil Authority, and campaigned three times for election to the state General Assembly. He was a district deputy director and director of the Vermont Civil Defense, was on the local Emergency Planning Committee, and elected chairman of the Chittenden County Citizen Corps Council. President George W. Bush honored him as an emergency volunteer in 2008. In addition to his wife, Tut is survived by son Bruce "Barney"; daughters Susann Smith, Marcella Landell and Carrie Irish; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister Alexandra Bradbury of Stockton, San Joaquin County, Calif. He was preceded in death by brother Eleazar IV. A memorial service was held at the Congregational Church in Jericho Center, Chittenden County, Vt. Memorial donations may be directed to Aspire Together, 56 Colchester Ave., Burlington, VT 05401, or Richmond Rescue.

RODNEY A. PARMELEE 1946-2017

Rodney [Ronald Art "Red," Howard Baldwin, Isaac, Aaron Baldwin, Bela, Reuben, John, John, John, John, John, John], a longtime resident of Honeoye Falls, Monroe County, N.Y., and a Vietnam War veteran, died Feb. 9, 2017. He was born May 1, 1946, the son of Ronald Art "Red" and A. Mildred "Millie" (Shelley) Parmelee, in Rochester, Monroe County, N.Y. Rodney was a member of the American Legion Falls Post #664 and the local Fire Department. He is survived by his wife, Harriet; sons Casey and Shane; two grandchildren; sisters Joan Smith and Marilyn De Sain; and many nieces and nephews. Burial was at Honeoye Falls Cemetery. Memorials may be made in his name to the Veterans Memorial–Falls Post 664, c/o Wayne Menz, 90 Ontario St., Honeoye Falls, NY 14472.

STEPHEN 'RANDY' RANDALL PARMLEY 1951-2017

Randy [Ralph Doggett, Tim Hennessey, Samuel Mitchison, Edward Mitchison, Samuel, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John], who was known for his love of nature and his talents as a stone mason/sculptor, woodworker, painter, poet and musician, died July 26, 2017, at his home in Waldoboro, Lincoln County, Maine. He was born Nov. 29, 1951, the son of Ralph and Mary Hildegard (Gilsey) Parmley, in New Jersey. Randy's stonework can be found in Augusta, Kennebec County, Maine, as he and partner Norman Casas crafted the granite steps for the James G. Blaine House. He was also commissioned by The Nobleboro School to do Earth Sun Moon and Stars, a Percent for Art project made for children to touch and play on. He created numerous fountains and birdbaths for people and businesses. One of his sculptures, a stone boat with stone sails, can be seen before the Wiscasset Bridge. He also built a granite waterfall installation for a New Jersey cancer hospital. He is survived by ex-wife Laura Kane of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Calif.; son Cassidy of Washington, Knox County, Maine; daughter Jessica of Los Angeles; and brothers Robin of Kapaa, Kauai County, Hawaii, and Rodney of Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.

VIRGINIA LEE (PARMELY) WILMETH 1932-2017

Virginia [Orlen R., Thomas J., Samuel, Samuel, Giles, Giles, Hiel, Nathaniel, Nathaniel, John, John] of Pocahontas, Hardeman County, Tenn., the widow of George "Frank" Franklin Wilmeth, died Oct. 3, 2017, in Jackson, Madison County, Tenn. She was born July 26, 1932, the daughter of Orlen R. and Martha "Callie" Calldonia (Kirk) Parmely, in McNairy County. Virginia was the salutatorian of her graduating class at Ramer High School. She was a cashier at the Pickwick Electric Cooperative from 1953 to 1957, and worked for Otis Industries in Ramer and at Wilmeth Grocery, where she earned a reputation as "the best bologna sandwich maker ever." She was an excellent cook and loved to prepare meals for her family. Virginia enjoyed crocheting, sewing, quilting, and raising vegetables and flowers in her garden. The Antioch Church of Christ was her home congregation; she was active in the Golden Oaks, the ladies' craft class and visitation teams, sending cards to those who needed encouragement. She is survived by daughters Pam Horton and Karen Bowers, both of Ramer, McNairy County, Tenn.; sister Fern Butler of Ramer; and four grandchildren. Virginia also was preceded in death by brother Howard Parmely; and sisters Fawndree Wilmeth and Earma Lee Kirk. Memorial contributions may be made to Ramer's Antioch Church of Christ Cemetery Fund.

Obituaries index