Melissa "Missy" Parish

Melissa “Missy” Parish passed away peacefully on November 1, 2015. Missy was born in Fayetteville, Arkansas on September 25, 1943. Like many war babies, her mother Mary Elizabeth Edmiston McMcIlheran was living with her parents while her father Edward H. McIlheran was serving in the South Pacific.

Missy grew up in Weslaco, Texas where she was salutatorian of her high school class. It was there that she met her future husband, Charles Randall Parish (Randy). She attended The University of Texas where she was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. A week after receiving her Elementary Education degree, she and high school sweetheart, Randy were married January 30, 1965.

Whether known as Missy, Mom or Mimi, she was a loving wife and mother doting on her 3 children and 6 grandchildren. She lived her life in a selfless, sharing way.

Missy is preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband, Randy of 50 years and their 3 children, Paige and husband Jason Derr and their 4 children, Tyler, Jacob, Luke and Addison of Kingwood, Texas; Son, Craig Parish and wife, Cyndy of Richmond, Texas; Daughter Meredith and husband Bill Coursey and their children, Elizabeth and Easton of Houston, Texas.

During her final year Missy impressed all that knew her with her spirit, strength and determination to start a new life with the precious gift of donated lungs. Our appreciation and thanks go to all of those doctors and nurses at the J.C. Walter Transplant Center at Houston Methodist Hospital and Kindred Hospital who worked so tirelessly to make this dream a reality.

A visitation will be at the Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood Texas 77339, on Thursday, November 5th from 5:00PM to 8:00PM. A memorial service will be on Friday, November 6 at 10:30AM held at Kingwood United Methodist Church, 1799 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, TX 77339 with interment following at Brookside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the J.C. Walter Transplant Center, 6445 Main Street, Outpatient Center, 26th Floor, Houston, TX 77030 or charity of your choice.