Buddy E. Parrish

Buddy E. Parrish, 87, of Cape Girardeau died July 24, 2016 at his home. He was born February 28, 1929, at Palmersville, Tennessee, to Yancy B. and Hilda G. Pentecost Parrish. He grew up on the family farm in northwest Tennessee near Cottage Grove. In 1966, he bought farm land in Tennessee and became a "weekend farmer," raising small acreage of soybeans, corn and beefalo cattle. The farm was sold in 2008. He and Marsha M. Savers were married November 20, 1971. Parrish graduated from Cottage Grove High School in 1947. He was inducted into the US Army on November 21, 1950, serving during the Korean conflict as a corporal, stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, an instructor of light infantry weapons. He received an honorable discharge on Nov. 21, 1952. After his discharge, he worked at the atomic plant in Paducah, Kentucky until 1955, when he went to college at Memphis State University, graduating in 1958. He was a senior sales specialist with the Upjohn pharmaceutical company (which later became part of Pfizer) for 31 years, working in Mattoon, Illinois for 10 years; then transferring to Cape Girardeau, retiring in 1990. In the seventies and eighties, he won five national sales awards. He was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church, Harold O. Grauel Lodge # 672 (receiving his 50-year pin in 2010), Masonic York Rite bodies and a charter member of the Cape Shrine Club. He was also affiliated with Cape Rock Chapter #60, Order of the Eastern Star, Elks Lodge # 639 and Troop 2, Boy Scouts of America as an assistant scoutmaster for a number of years. He is survived by his wife of 44 years; daughters, Tammy Parrish (Jim Heirbaut) of Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Pene (Chris) Schrock of Mattoon; a grandson, Hunter Allen Parrish of Cape and granddaughters Ella Heirbaut of Amsterdam and Jennifer Ronstadt of Mattoon; a brother, Ted L. Parrish of Cottage Grove, Tennessee; and a sister, Mary Carrell of Paducah, Kentucky. He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Shawn Parrish (2007); and two sisters, Sue Elliott and Pat Miller. Visitation will be at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Chapel 4:00 to 8:00 pm Thursday, July 28, 2016 with a Masonic service at 7:00 pm. Funeral services will be at Centenary United Methodist Church 9:00 am Friday, July 29, 2016. A one-hour visitation will be held at Ridgeway Funeral Home from 2:00-3:00 pm Friday in Paris, Tennessee followed by a graveside service at 3:30 pm at Walker Cemetery near Cottage Grove. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to the Shriners Hospital for Children, 2001 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis MO 63131-3597.

Tributes

Buddy E. Parrish

February 28, 1929 - July 24, 2016