Obituary: Dora Lee Parish, 96, Elizabethtown
DORA LEE PARISH
Dora Lee Parish, 96, of Elizabethtown, died peacefully Monday, Jan. 8, 2018, at her home. She was born in Hardin County on Sept. 11, 1921, the oldest child of John and Sue Kirtley Skeeters. At 17, she wed Ophal Ray Parish; they were married for 43 years until his death in 1982. They raised their large family in Boston where she was a lifelong member and deaconess emeritus, of Boston Christian Church. Over decades of service to the church, several clergy as well as the congregation continually recognized her for her service to God and the character of her heart.
While raising her family, she was involved in her children’s many school activities. She used her cooking skills both professionally and personally, which included her position as food services manager at Boston Elementary School for 12 years, raising a large vegetable garden and canning its produce, and making delicious southern meals for her family. This showed most during holidays when her home in Boston was the gathering place to enjoy her cooking, baking, and hospitality.
After her husband’s death, she became active in the Hardin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, and faithfully volunteered in the hospital gift shop for 24 years, from 1982-2006, while she lived in Boston, and later Elizabethtown. She earned a service pin for 29,000 hours, which was a remarkable example of community service. In March 2005, her military son-in-law arranged for the Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff, G-1, U.S. Army, to recognize her longstanding and meritorious volunteer service with a special certificate and coin with which she was presented at the Pentagon. She remained a loyal member of the Auxiliary until her death.
In addition to hers volunteerism, she enjoyed reading Christian love stories; knitting and crocheting beautiful bedspreads, afghan blankets, and doilies; visiting the local Farmer’s Market with her daughter Rebecca on Saturday mornings; and spending time with her family. Above all, her favorite role in life was that of being a loving wife and mother, and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by an infant daughter; two sons, Darrell Ray and Stanley Wayne Parish; one son-in-law, Tommy Greer; and one brother, Jimmy Skeeters.
Survivors include five daughters, Barbara Greer, Jo Ann (Bob) Love, and Rebecca (Art) Glikin, of Elizabethtown, and Darlene (William) Beam and Linda Parish, both of Bardstown; one son, George (Linda) Parish of Taylorsville; one brother, Franklin Reed of Harrodsburg; seven grandchildren, Lance Call and Lindsey Call, both of Bardstown, Ray Greer of Elizabethtown, Ruth Greenwell and Liz Mattingly, both of Cox’s Creek, Quinn Parish of Waddy, and Laura Hillman of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
The funeral is 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at the Boston Christian Church with the Rev. Tommy Harned and her nephew, the Rev. Ronnie Skeeters, officiating. Burial is in the church cemetery.
Visitation is noon-7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at the Kappel Funeral Home in Boston, and 9-11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at the Boston Christian Church.
Pallbearers will be her seven grandchildren: Lance Call, Ray Greer, Quinn Parish; Ruth Greenwell, Lindsey Call, Laura Hillman, and Liz Mattingly. Honorary pallbearers will be her sons-in-law Bob Love, William Beam, and Art Glikin; and close friends Earl Coy, David Call, Jimmy Prentice, and Terry Troutman.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Boston Christian Church Cemetery Fund, P.O. Box 13, Boston, KY, 40107.
The Kappel Funeral Home in Boston is in charge of arrangements.
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