Charles Madison Parrish Jr.

Charles grew up in Prosser and Grandview, Washington and graduated from Grandview High School in 1967. He was a kind and sensitive child. In his mother's journal, she wrote this of Chuck: "Doug Burke, who, over the years, had been Chuck's Sunday School teacher, his Explorer leader in Mutual, his Priesthood leader and Branch President, told me that "Charles is one of the kindest boys I have ever known. I do not think he would ever do or say anything to hurt anyone's feelings." I believe that President Burke's observation held true until Chuck's death on October 1, 2022, at age 74.

As a young boy, Charles loved music. He always wanted an accordion, something his family really couldn't afford, but one year for Christmas, mother found a small one for him and how happy he was as he played it for hours each day. He also played the drums in high school and was in the marching band where he played the big bass drum while marching in local parades.

After high school, Chuck served an honorable mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the land of New Zealand, where he learned to speak the Maori language.

Upon returning from his mission, Chuck met and fell deeply in love with Sharon Mae Violette where both were attending a Yakima Young Adult Conference. It took some patience, effort and charm on his part to win over Sharon's very strict and stern father's approval, but he did and they were married in the Logan, Utah Temple on November 21, 1975.

Chuck and Sharon had a truly enviable marriage. The love they shared was obvious to anyone that was around them and saw how they looked at each other, spoke to each other and treated each other with such love, respect and kindness throughout their 46-year marriage. Chuck told me once that when he married Sharon, he promised himself that he would make Sharon laugh each day he was with her. I believe he did that up until the last difficult days.

They were blessed with three wonderful children: Charles, Stephanie and Timothy. Charles was a loving and devoted father. He was a fun father and he and Sharon created a happy home for their children. Sharon made him a Santa suit one year and he brought joy to many children at Christmas time throughout the years, as he made "Santa visits," to friends and neighbors leaving gifts from Santa.

Charles enjoyed working with his boys, Charles and Tim, in the scouting program. He was Scout Master for many years and blessed the lives of countless young men with his example and values of honesty, hard work, respect and service. Charles achieved the rank of Life Scout. He received The Silver Beaver Scout Award, an award given to a select few adult scout leaders, honoring their years of service.

After several jobs, and while he still had a young family, Chuck went back to college and earned his Bachelors and two Master’s degrees in Education. Teaching children was his true calling. He was a gifted teacher and loved teaching and working with children. He taught kindergarten, fourth grade and driver’s education until his health declined and he was forced to retire. He was a most loved and respected teacher. His sense of humor and his great concern for each child made him a favorite. One year he helped each of his students make a large wooden reindeer door hanger as a gift for their parents for Christmas. Each one had the last name of the family written on the front of it. This was no small project but one the children surely gave with pride to their parents. Chuck made one for each of his five siblings as well. A treasured gift.

Charles was fun to be around. He was often the center of attention at family reunions with his “Up in the Air, Jr. Birdman,” song and motions, or telling the story of “The Wide-mouthed Frog.” No one could do it quite like Chuck!

Besides being a loving husband and father, he was a devoted son. After his father passed away in 1982, Chuck often made the drive to Grandview to help his mother, whether it be mowing her lawn, weeding her flower and vegetable garden, helping paint her house, or any other household repairs that needed attention. He was always there for her. For many years, on the day before Memorial Day, he would drive to the Grandview Cemetery and trim the grass around our father’s headstone and then clean and polish the granite so that it would look nice when mother came with flowers the following day.

Charles was also a wonderful uncle to his nieces and nephews. Just last year he sent temple Christmas tree ornaments to each of his 28 nieces and nephews and to each of his siblings. He didn't just send them any temple ornament, but he took the time to think about each person and the temple that would be most meaningful to them, the temple they were married in or the temple from the land where they served a mission so that it was a personal gift from their favorite uncle. They will be cherished.

Charles endured the physical challenges of mortality with great faith, trusting in his Father’s Plan for him. Pancreatitis and kidney disease made dialysis necessary for the last 12 years of his life. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday were spent at the dialysis center. After he broke his leg in March of this year, he endured seven months at a rehab facility. Though he was often in pain during this time, he remained positive about his condition. It seemed that, no matter when you called him and asked how he was doing, he would reply, "Well, you know, this has been a good day. And how is your family?" He would then name each of our children by name and ask what they were doing. He never wanted it to be just about him.

Charles was able to pass away peacefully at his and Sharon’s lovely and comfortable home on Cascade Drive, surrounded by Sharon and his family.

Charles is survived by his true love, Sharon, and their children Charles and his wife April of Oklahoma, daughter Stephanie and her husband Niels Poulsen of Logan, Utah, and son Tim and his wife Rebecca of Yakima. Ten grandchildren, Kurtis, Blake, Jared, Maci, Isabelle, Steven, Benjamin, Megan, Cooper and Alllson, and, one great-grandson, Samuel. His siblings, Leilani and Dick O'Brien, Peggy and Gary Scrimsher, James and Carlene Parrish, Terry and LeeAnne Parrish, Velma and Bart Bradshaw, many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

A visitation for Charles will be held Wednesday, October 5, 2022 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Keith & Keith Funeral Home, 902 West Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98902. A funeral service will occur Thursday, October 6, 2022 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at LDS Church, 705 S. 38th Ave., Yakima, WA 98903.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.keithandkeith.com for the Parrish family.