Mary Evelyn Parrish

Mary Evelyn Parrish, known to most as “Ma”, passed peacefully from this life the early morning of April 22, 2016 after a gradual decline in health. She was surrounded and supported by her loving family and caregivers during the last days of her life. Ma was born in the Cotton Wood community, Hamilton County Texas on March 20, 1926 to William Dace and Mina Shave Brooks. She graduated from Evant High School in 1942 and on June 20, 1942 married the love of her life B.K. “Pa” Parrish. This was truly the beginning of one of the greatest love stories ever written. After Pa’s service in the Navy, they found their home in Evant, Texas and began their farming and ranching way of life. They were in the dairy business for almost 50 years and Ma was actively involved. She was a very strong woman physically and spiritually. She served as church secretary for many, many years at Star Baptist Church. She loved God and serving any way she could. Her passion in life above all was her family. She loved to take care of each one of us by cooking, sewing, and doing whatever she could to help make our lives complete. She was and excellent cook and an extremely talented seamstress and the love she had for each person clearly was shown in her talents. Their house was never empty and her heart was always full of love for all. Their door was never locked physically or emotionally. All though their farm house was small by today’s standards, there was always room for more people than you can imagine and enough love to make each one there feel so special. She will be greatly missed by all but find peace in knowing she was welcomed to her eternal home by God but Pa Parrish was waiting right there to be reunited with the love of his life and they will spend eternity in the house of the Lord.

Ma was preceded in death by her loving husband B.K. Parrish, parents, a beloved Uncle Bud Brooks who assisted in her raising, two brothers W.D. and L.J. Brooks, and a great grandson, David Parrish.

She is survived by her children, Bryan Parrish and wife Linda of Hamilton, Texas, Donald Parrish and wife Dionitia of Evant, and Rodney Parrish and wife Donna of Evant; grandchildren, Brent and Sara Parrish of Clovis, New Mexico, Russell and Kristi Parrish of Riesel, Texas, John and Lisa Parrish of Evant, Texas, Gayla and Matt Hodges of Lorena, Texas, Randy Parrish of Evant, Texas, and Heather and Jacob Jarvis of Cisco, Texas; Great grandchildren Blain Parrish of Evant, Texas, Brandi and Michael Batson of Hamilton, Texas, Sara Parrish of Riesel Texas, Garrett Lee of Weatherford, Mattie and Nolan Hodges of Lorena, Texas, Kade and Katy Parrish of Evant, Brittney Pope of Clovis, New Mexico, Tyler Kaminsky of Riesel, Texas; Great, great grandsons Braycin Parrish and Cooper Batson of Hamilton, Texas. Special family members; Josh and Diana Boatwright of Hamilton.

Pallbearers:

Brent Parrish, Russell Parrish, John Parrish, Randy Parrish, Blain Parrish, Matt Hodges, Michael Batson, and Jacob Jarvis

Arrangements under the direction of Riley Funeral Home, Hamilton, Texas.