Obituary of Robert Parish

Funeral services for Robert Lee Parish, 73, Arp, will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, June 27, at Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church with Reverend Dr. Ron Klingslick officiating.  He will be laid to rest at Mason Cemetery under the direction of Cottle Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Music will be by Brothers Tommy Harden and Nolin Calicutt. Robert Lee Parish was born March 22, 1939, to Johnie & Leona Parish in Damon.  He passed away suddenly at his home on Sunday, June 24, 2012. Robert attended Arp Schools throughout elementary, junior high and high school, graduating in 1957. He attended Tyler Junior College and later served in the United States Army where he was honorably discharged in 1959. Robert married Dolores Anne McCorkle June 5, 1959, and they had two sons, Peter Darwin and Bart Preston Parish. Robert was employed in the vending business as co-owner of Coffee Services  for many years, and later owned the Lone Star Donut Shop on South Broadway in Tyler where he made many friends as well as great donuts. Robert never met a stranger and was dearly loved by everyone who knew him. Robert was preceded in death by his first wife Dolores, in 1992.  Robert met and married his present wife, Brenda Crocker Parish, in 1993. They recently celebrated 19 years of marriage, during which they have delighted in the birth of grandchildren and enjoyed traveling. They enjoyed RVing with many wonderful friends. After moving back to his family home in Arp in 1999, Robert loved to sit on the porch and tell stories of growing up in Arp, his grandchildren, and his travels.  He especially enjoyed meeting with his loyal coffee buddies every morning. Robert was also preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Anita Parish Lane. He is survived by his wife Brenda Parish; sons and daughter-in-law, Peter Parish of Lubbock, and Bart and Kelly Parish of Corinth; stepdaughters and their spouses,  Beverly and Jerry Uzzell and Julie and Dan Johnson, all of Tyler; Nancy and Jay Roberts of Abilene; and stepson Brent Crocker of Beeville; grandchildren, Conner, Casey and Calvin Parish, Emily and Sam Roberts, Holly and Hannah Roberson, Steffan  and Travis Uzzell; a great grandson, Bentley; sisters and brothers-in-law, Juanita and Tot Thomas of Arp,  Ruth and Alvin Flynn of Tyler, Beth and Bill Hunter of Silver Creek, Georgia, brother-in-law Roland  Lane and wife Doris of Tyler and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Pallbearers will be Tony Roberts, Glenn Foster, Dan Johnson, Jay Roberts, Conner Parish, Casey Parish and Johnny Stapleton. Honorary Pallbearers will be Calvin Parish, Sam Roberts, Jerry Uzzell and his coffee group.  Visitation will be at Cottle Pearson Funeral Home in Overton from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 26. Memorials may be made to the Together We Build Fund, Arp Emmanuel Baptist Church, P. O. Box 87, Arp, Texas 75750, or Christian Homes and Family Services, 13359 Highway 155 South, Tyler, Texas 75703.