Name: Coble Ward-Smith Funeral & Cremation Service
Address: Wilmington, NC

I played in "Pendulum" with Dick from 1973-75.  He was a fine drummer, and seemed to always have a smile on his face.  He always had a good story to tell about Nebraska.  He was working at Jackson and Bell as a commercial artist in those days- in fact, he designed the card above.  I was just 18 years old, and Dick was next youngest to me- he was 34 at the time we formed the group.  Yet, he and the others always treated me as an equal.  I have so many good memories of those two years.  Dick was a friend, and he is missed.  My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

My deepest condolences. Mr Parrott was such a kind and talented man.  His passing is truly a great loss to our community.  He did my wedding photos, and beach photos of my beloved Westie. And just last Christmas he took Christmas photos of my new puppy. He had a way of putting everyone at ease and capturing beautiful images.  He will be remembered with great fondness and missed dearly.

RIP Sir.  I will miss your generous spirit.

I was surprised and saddened to hear the news of Mr. Parrott's passing.  As a student in one of his classes, he always shared his enthusiasm and energy for life and photography with the class.  Mr. Parrott had an expansive knowledge and background of photography and often would add a bit of humor in with his teachings.  My condolences go out to all  his friends and family.  He will be missed.

I am so sorry to hear of Dick's passing. He was a good man and it was a honor to know him. He will be missed.

Thank you for giving so much of yourself to our four legged friends. Hearts & prayers the family.     Julia

Met Dick over 8 years ago through Monty's Home.  Such a wonderful and caring person who was always a huge advocate for shelter animals.  Will truly miss him walking around with his camera, his whistle in his mouth, searching for the best shot of each dog that would help find their forever families.  Dick touched the hearts and lives of so many humans and canines.  It was a privilege and a joy to know him.

The staff at Trulie Dogs are so deeply saddened by the loss of our favorite pictures with Santa photographer! Over the last 3 years he became a close friend to us all!! He wouldn't stop until he got the perfect shot of each customers furbaby! He took so much pride in his work and equipment. Twice a year, he would haul all of his equipment into our store and despite all of us offering to help him carry it, he would insist on doing it himself. He personally took time to help me pull off a surprise photo for one of my groomers. Each year, I would have one of my children as his asst and they grew a love for photography just being by his side. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his wife, Nancy who he let everyone know was the love of his life. We will continue our pictures with Santa fundraiser this year in honor of Dick but it will definitely be a bitter sweet day!! We all hope you are getting tons of puppy kisses in heaven and until we see you again, my friend...

I first met Dick Parrott at the New Hanover County Sheriff's Department when it was located at 20 North 4th Street.  It was there that I got to know him, work with him, and learned to appreciate and admire him.  He was a fine Deputy and I am so glad to have met him.  Nancy, I am so saddened by the loss of your husband.  --Buck--

We are so very sorry to hear this sad news. Dick was our wedding photographer on May 28, 2016. He was so vibrant, happy, and full of life that it is hard to believe that just five months later this has happened. Our condolences are with his wife, Nancy, and his furbabies. In the short time we shared with him preparing for the wedding, he spoke of you all very often. It was very obvious, Nancy, that he put you high up on a pedestal and loved you dearly. We are very blessed that we have the beautiful pictures from our wedding and will think of him every time we view them. God bless...
Sherri and Rich Bradley

Sue & I met Dick at one of his  photography classes back in 2010.  Little did we realize the impact that this guy would have on our lives.  Over the years we quickly learned that Dick was a Master Photographer, a teacher, our mentor, and most of all he became our friend.  We always learned from Dick and his vast  library of experience ranging from film and chemicals to the digital technologies of today.  Not a lot of the old school photographers were able to make the transition from film and chemicals to digital with pixels and gigabits with computers  and Photoshop.  Not only was he able to embrace and  succeed in that transition he became a teacher so that he could  show the wonders of digital photography to others.

One of the first things that I learned from Dick,  "learn to see".  Too often we look but do not see.  Look for the light, use God's light. Every time we set to shoot a scene, a pet, or a family I know Dick is looking over my shoulder.

I hope everyone enjoyed and developed their love of Photography like Sue and I did.  I know of a number of his students that have opened their own photography business and many others that concentrated on kids & grand-kids and other fun stuff.  Dick had his own unique way of mixing experience with the class objectives so that everyone gained and learned.

His departure is a loss to the photography world and to many, including Sue & I, the loss of a teacher, a mentor, and a valued friend.  We consider ourselves very fortunate to have know and studied with Dick and especially fortunate to have know him as a friend.  We will miss Dick, his advice that he was always willing to share, his experience, and his friendship.

Nancy, Our heartfelt condolences to our to you and your family.  The world will surely miss the presence of a truly loveable and kind person.  Dick will be remembered in our thoughts and prayers! His talent in photography will live on forever!   Blessings, Maureen & Tony Molnar  Wilmington, NC

Nancy, Mike and I are saddened by your loss. Dick was a wonderful person and will be greatly missed. We will forever cherise his photos of all our dogs.
Mike and Robi Ingerson (Jacksonville, NC)

Sending my deepest condolences in the passing of Mr. Parrott. I had the joy of being one of his students in the past year. I will forever view photography with a different sense of light, and I'm ever grateful to have crossed paths with him. It truly saddens me to have lost such a great mentor, and friend. I loved listening to his adventures and admired Mr. Parrott's heart of gold towards all the animals he put the extra effort into helping. I will truly miss Mr. Parrott, I am so very sorry Miss Nancy for loss, he spoke so very often of you and l could see the twinkle in his eye with every mention of you...

Dear Nancy 
Jeff and I were so saddened to hear of Dicks passing. He was such a wonderful, caring and generous soul. I loved to hear him laugh. You and he were there for me at a difficult time in my life and for that I will always be grateful. His gift of photography was unprecedented and he gave to so many especially his four legged friends. God Bless you. Rest In Peace Friend.

Dick,  as you said "The best part of the trip started with Wilmington in the rear view" I will surely miss our photo safaris , but not near as much as I will miss you my friend. I always appreciated your guidance, your life lessons, and learning the difference between a picture and photograph. As David said - Go ahead and scout out the best locations for our next safari. It wont be the same with out you in the classroom.

Dick, I know you must be in the most "target-rich" place of your remarkable life.   I will miss you as teacher and mentor.   I will miss your esoteric lessons about "seeing light".   I will miss your practical lessons about seeing everything in the viewfinder while also keeping the other eye out for trouble.  But most of all, I will miss you as friend....the humor, the advice, the life lessons learned, and the insights.  Go on ahead, Ranger. Scout for us the best locations, the best light, and the happiest days.

Thanks to Dick, our family and our business have beautiful photos for posterity. He was a pleasure to work with. Our comforts to Nancy and family.

My sincere condolence to the Parrott family. Anyone can take a picture, but no one could photograph the essence of the subject like Dick  Parrott.He will be missed in Wilmington.

Very sorry to learn of Dick's passing. He was a very kind soul to many, both human and animal alike while here on this earth. Prayer's for his wife Nancy and those that his life has impacted. 
Your smile and wit will be greatly missed Dick.

So sorry for your loss, Nancy. You will be in my prayers for comfort and peace at this very difficult time. Miss you.

Nancy, 
So sorry to learn of Dick's passing. 
We will be praying for you during this difficult time. May God's blessings be
with you.

"Hey, you- It's Me"...Rest easy my friend. You will be missed and may your knowledge of photography live through those who had the pleasure of being one of your students and friends.  My prayers are with you Ms. Nancy-may God comfort you as you go through this very difficult time.

Mr Parrott, my mentor, my friend. I will miss his quick wit, sage advice and companionship. Mr.Parrott taught me, inspired me , brought me solace in times of trouble. His stories entertained me. Even when we would work together, either professionally or just chores around the home-every moment was a delightful verbal spar. 
I will miss my friend, I already do. I cherish the memories and always will.
He always got mad at me for calling him Mister Parrott, and not by his first name-for 16 years....it was because I respected him, no matter how many short jokes I zinged at him...and no matter how many tall jibes he threw at me.
An incredible man who lived life to the fullest...I only hope to become 1/2 the man he was. (And I dont mean in stature Mr. Parrott!)
Your friend, Mr. Bailey...

Dear Nancy,
My sympathies to you. Dick was a great person , generous with his time and a kind soul. He will be missed by many.
Prayers and comfort to you.
Vick Wilcox

Dick was a special friend , we loved him dearly, he will be missed, he also was a great instructor in photography--Love you Nance--so sorry for your loss--Barb and Bob West

Prayers of comfort for you Nancy. RIP partner.

I was so lucky that Dick was one of the first people I met and my first dog training friend when I moved here in 1986.  He was a great friend and mentor.  We shared many laughs and training adventures over the years  and I admired him immensely.  He was an exemplary police officer and his service here was one of Wrightsville Beach's most valued and loved assets.  I marveled at his talent as a photographer, it was amazing how he could capture a dog's personality.  His generosity with his time and talent for animal rescue helped save countless lives and his absence will be a huge loss in the rescue community.  Nancy, I am so sorry for your loss.  He was a wonderful human being.

A dear sweet man!  Thinking of you Nancy.

It was an honor to meet Dick and have him photograph my fur babies. He had a real talent and it showed. Even with my most difficult puppy, he took awesome pictures of Sophie with Santa. He leaves behind many wonderful memories. I am sorry for your loss.        Carol Ernst,Wilmington NC

He was a wonderful person.  When he was on duty at Wrightsville Beach, he would always stop by at the Silver Gull to say hi and also make his presence known that he watched over the motel.  I know that he will be missed.  Prayers to Nancy and the fur babies.

He was a fine man. We admired him very much. His death is a loss to all of us. Jerome and Diane Williams, Wrightsville Beach, NC

I first met Dick at Longleaf Photo while I was in junior High school at Roland Grise in the photo club, I believe. Later In High School, at the age of 15...he hired me for my first real job in photography, working at Longleaf Photo. He was quite the "Man" to me. He was impressed by an invention I had made, and therefore offered me a job!He always encouraged me to go after my dreams of becoming a professional photographer and I will always remember and appreciate that about him! Thank You Dick Parrot for being a major influence in my youth. You were a great teacher and friend!At the shop...we called him "Mighty Mouse" because of his physical size and his Sheriff job...It used to get him quite riled up, but he knew it was all in fun! Rest in Peace "Mighty Mouse" and Thank you so much for the guidance and encouragement you gave me over the years. I love you my friend.

OBITUARY

Richard Parrott

October 4, 1941 – October 8, 2016

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