Harold Dean Parish, 85, of Lemoyne, NE, died Thursday, May 29, 2014, at the Ogallala Community Hospital in Ogallala, NE.
Harold was born May 10, 1929, to Jesse Ray and Ada Roberta Bryant Parish in Atlanta, NE. The family moved to Woodruff, KS, living there during the Depression, then moved to North Platte in 1940 when Harold was in the sixth grade. He and his much loved twin, Garold, graduated from North Platte High School in 1947. They were both called “Brother” by all their friends as none could tell them apart.
On June 14, 1951, Harold married Earlene Janet Flint and they were blessed with two daughters, Roberta Jane and Rebecca Lynn. Harold served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956; this included a year in Korea.
Harold later graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and taught advanced math at Chase County High School. The family eventually moved to Lakewood, CO where Harold first worked for the Geological Survey then began a long career as a chemist for the Food and Drug Administration. He retired from there in 1981. Following his retirement, along with the help of a lot of family, he finished their lake home at Lake McConaughy. Harold loved living at the lake and was an avid fisherman until his COPD began to limit his breathing.
Harold is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Earlene, of Lemoyne; a daughter, Bobby Parish (Tammy Sanders), of Brighton, CO; his twin brother, Garold (Katheryn) Parish, of North Platte; two sisters, Mildred Erickson, of Tucson, AZ and Dorothy Bruno, of Rifle, CO; grandchildren, Renae Fales, of Gering, NE, Kathy Major, of Windsor, CO, Jesse Major (Shara Baars), of Brighton, CO; and his great-grandchildren, Lexi and Aiden, of Brighton, CO.
He will also be missed by his many nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Judy Bricker, Jean Dowhower and Lindy Pettit; and his brothers-in-law, Frank (Mary) Flint, of Arcanum, OH and Adrian ‘Kris’ Kryzcki (Frances Johnson), of North Platte.
Harold was preceded in death by his daughter, Rebecca Szakacs; and his parents, Jesse and Ada Parish.
Cremation was chosen. A graveside memorial service with military honors will be 11 a.m. (CT) Tuesday, June 3, 2014, in Fort McPherson National Cemetery with Pastor Dunwoody officiating. The memorial book may be signed from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore or online at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Lemoyne Senior Center. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.
