Betty L. Parrish
Betty L. Parrish, 78, a resident of Okmulgee, died Tuesday, March 30, 2004 in Tulsa. Services are 10:00a.m. Friday, April 2, 2004 at the First United Methodist Church in Okmulgee with Reverend George Christy and Reverend Guy Langston officiating. Interment will follow in the Okmulgee Cemetery under the direction of the Shurden-Kelley Funeral Home of Okmulgee.
She was born on Thursday, December 3, 1925 to Herman I. and Josephine (McGee) Walker in Schulter, Oklahoma. Betty spent all of her childhood in Schulter, Oklahoma where she first made her commitment to Christ in the Schulter Methodist Church. Betty played basketball with the Lady Bulldogs and graduated from high school in 1944. She fell in love with Lonny Ray Parrish, whom she married May 9, 1942. Betty and Lonny shared the next 62 years making a warm and loving home for their five daughters, fourteen grandchildren and seventeen great grandchildren.
They maintain many fond memories and treasured friendships from the years they spent in Pleasant Grove, Dewar, Ringling, Tahlequah, Okmulgee and Oologah. The Parrishs’ returned to their family home in Okmulgee upon Lonny’s retirement in 1986. They enjoyed traveling over the next few years.
Betty was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Okmulgee and was active in U.M.W. Women’s Ministries. She was a volunteer ‘Pink Lady’ at Okmulgee Memorial Hospital. She was interested in cooking and gardening. She had a special place in her heart for kitties and “Puppy”. Betty loved music and serving others. Her ministry was showing her love to others by remembering them with cards, phone calls, visits, food or other acts of kindness. Anyone and everyone was always welcomed with love and nurturing in her home.
She was preceded in death by one brother, Ronald Gene Walker in 2002.
Survivors include husband, Lonny Ray Parrish of Okmulgee; five daughters, Lonnetta Pogue of Ringling, OK, Becky Reed of Okmulgee, Nancy Greene and husband, Richard of Okmulgee, Marjorie Gregory and husband, Larry of Carlsbad, NM, and Jennifer Copeland and husband, Steven of Oologah, Oklahoma; one sister, Hazel Bonat of Henryetta; one brother, Dale Walker of San Antonio, TX; grandchildren, Charles Ray Pogue, Michele Lewis, Anthony Eversole, Jr., Alicia Eversole, Misty Van Winkle, Ami Greene, Natalie Long, Dallas Greene, Larry W. Gregory, Kristin Azzinaro, Alana Coats, Jessica Flagel, Jade Copeland and Josh Copeland; and seventeen great grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Charles Pogue, Anthony Eversole, Jr., Larry Wayne Gregory, Dallas Greene, Josh Copeland and Billy Van Winkle. Honorary Pallbearers are Richard Greene, Steve Copeland, Larry L. Gregory, Christopher Long, Weston Flagel and Rick Lewis.
