Mary Alice Parish

Mary Alice Parish, lovingly known to so many as “Dollie,” of Topeka, Kansas, and formerly of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, peacefully went home on July 4, 2026, at the age of 78. Waiting to welcome her home were the love of her life and husband of 50 years, Bobby Glen Parish Sr., and her precious grandson, Christopher Glen Parish. She spent her final days exactly where she wanted to be—surrounded by the love of her family and dear friends.

Mary was born on October 9, 1947, to Pinkney and Lola Canipe Swink. She was the tenth of sixteen children, and life in the North Carolina hills was never quiet. She grew up in a home full of laughter, hard work, and more stories than anyone could ever count. She often laughed about snakes showing up on the door and snow blowing through the roof in the winter, but those memories became some of the stories she loved sharing most.

From the time she was a little girl, Mary knew what it meant to work hard. She helped care for babies, picked cotton and beans, and did whatever needed to be done. Family always came first. As a teenager, after the heartbreaking loss of her beloved brother Jimmie, Mary went to live on the Marine Corps Base in Jacksonville, North Carolina with her sister-in-law and three young nieces, Debbie, Sandra, and Teresa.

It was during that time she met a handsome young Marine named Bobby Glen Parish Sr. Bob thought he was the hottest thing around driving his little red Mustang, and after some persistence, he finally won Mary’s heart. The two married and began a love story that would last fifty beautiful years.

Bob took Mary from the hills of North Carolina to Kansas, where they built a life together, including buying Mary a pair of shoes and glasses. Mary always said she wanted a whole herd of children, but together they lovingly raised two children- Bobby Jr. and Rebecca(Becky) who later blessed them with five grandchildren. To Mary, though, family was never defined by blood alone. If she loved you, you were one of her babies. She opened her heart to everyone, and there was always room for one more.

Over the years, Mary worked at Shawnee Mission Medical Center, Johnson County Community College, University of Kansas Alumni Center, and Hallmark. But if you asked her, none of those jobs compared to being “Mom”, “Grandma”, and “MawMaw”. That was the work she loved most. She poured her heart into raising children, spoiling grandchildren, rocking babies, and making everyone feel safe, welcomed, and deeply loved.

Mary and Bob also shared a love of adventure. Together they traveled across the country, making memories in Alaska, Colorado, Nevada, Hawaii, and just about every road between Kansas and North Carolina. Early in their marriage, Bob made Mary a promise that if she ever wanted to go home, he’d take her. True to his word, during the later years of his life, he brought her back to the North Carolina mountains she loved so dearly.

After losing Bob, Mary faced another battle that would have broken many people. She was diagnosed with cancer, but she refused to let it steal her spirit. For eight years she fought with incredible strength, determination, and grace. She never wanted to hear, “I can’t do this anymore.” Instead, she’d remind everyone around her, “It’s going to be okay. It will be eventually.” Those words became a source of comfort not only for herself but for everyone who loved her.

Mary eventually returned to Kansas to be closer to her family. Her greatest joy remained watching her family grow. She was blessed with great-grandchildren Kaylani, Karson, Kashton, and another precious little one on the way. She also loved her fur-grandbabies—Loki of the home, Chloe, Diesel, Pepper, and Bean—just as fiercely as she loved everyone else.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Glen Parish Sr.; her beloved grandson, Christopher Glen Parish; her parents, Pinkney and Lola Canipe Swink; and many brothers and sisters whom she dearly loved and has now joyfully reunited with.

She leaves behind a family who will carry her love with them forever: her children; her grandchildren Thomas (Kaitlin) Parish, Nicole Shoemaker, Hailey (Chase) Morelan, and Drake Gray; her great-grandchildren Kaylani Parish, Karson Morelan, Kashton Parish, and Baby Parish, expected soon; her sisters Janie Griffin (Jimmie Swink), Annie Price, Brenda Henson, Linda Sain, Helen Swink, Faye Carter, and Barbara Botts; along with countless nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, dear friends, and every child she ever loved as one of her own.

Our family would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the nurses and staff at Stormont Vail, especially Mackenzie and Makaila. During one of the hardest times of our lives, your compassion, kindness, and care became a light in our darkest days. We will never forget the comfort and dignity you gave Mary and our family.

If Mary could leave us with one final lesson, it would simply be this: love your family, hold your people close, laugh often, and never give up. Life may not always be easy, but eventually, somehow, it will be okay.

Until we meet again, we’ll imagine her back where she always belonged—hand in hand with Bob, surrounded by family, finally home.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made in memory of Mary “Dollie” Parish, or in honor of both Mary and Bob Parish, to the American Cancer Society or Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Visitation will be held at Chapel Hill - Butler FH, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, KS 66112, US, on July 13, 2026, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Entombment will take place at Newcomer’s Shawnee Mission Funeral Home, 23215 W. 75th Street, Shawnee, KS 66227, US, on July 13, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.