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WILLIAM THOMAS
PARRY – 71 – Parry’s Landscaping
LAKELAND -
William
Thomas Parry died December 5, 2013 due to heart disease. He was born
in Bartow, Florida on September
28, 1942 to Lucile (Enwright)
and Thomas Houghton Parry,
Jr. Known as Bill Parry to most,
he was graduated from Lake
Wales High School where he
played
football and then attended the University of Florida.
Bill
served
in the United States Marine Corps, training at Paris Island, North
Carolina, and then was chosen for the Elite Fifth Force Reconnaissance
Company and trained at Camp Pendleton, California. He subsequently
served with the Marine Corps in the Republic of Viet Nam.
Upon
returning from Viet Nam, Bill rematriculated at, and was graduated
from, the University of Florida where he earned a Bachelor of Science
degree in Ornamental Horticulture in May, 1972. He then continued his
education at the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science
degree in Entomology in December, 1972. While at the University of
Florida he was a member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and was inducted
into, and served as, president of Alpha Zeta, the Agriculture Honorary
organization.
On
October
31, 1972, Bill opened his business, Parry's
Landscaping, and
was President of the company for forty-one years until his retirement
this year. One of his greatest pleasures was riding past a job site he
had designed and admiring the trees and plantings, whether it be a
fifty acre commercial site or at a private home. His business was
statewide and he loved every job.
He
married
Margaret Chase Parry on September 29, 1972. Their daughter, Carolyn
Parry Nance, was born in 1976, and their son, Thomas Houghton Parry,
IV, was born in 1977. His unconditional love for his children is a
legacy they will cherish. Bill, as he was known to his family and
friends, will be remembered for his integrity, authenticity, his love
of his country, his strong family values, his ardent work ethic, and
his passion for his chosen profession. He will especially be remembered
for his deep, faithful love for his wife, and pride and profound love
for his children and their families. All who met him benefited from his
infectious, keen sense of humor, his courteous manner and genuine
concern for others and their families. Bill cared about, and showed
respect to every single individual with whom he came in contact - from
every walk of life. He was a gentleman who always tried to see the
brightest side of life. His spontaneous sense of humor often gave birth
to humorous and heartwarming "Bill Parryisms" that will long be
remembered with affection and pleasure. He and his wife of forty-one
years, Margaret, were soul mates. His greatest joys were derived from
his profound love and faithful and fun partnership with her, his
children, Carolyn and Houghton and their spouses, Ian and Tiffany and
his most recent love, his grandchildren. He cherished being with his
friends of any age and considered the time spent with them and
especially the friends of his children, a gift. Bill's quiet and
authentic faith in a loving and merciful God gave him strength to
sustain him both in times of trial and times of joy. He was indeed an
inspirational example of courage and grit when facing often seemingly
intolerable adversity in health.
For
many
years, Bill sponsored and coached his son's Dixie
Youth baseball
teams. He was a member of the
Lakeland Margarita Society for
twenty-two years and served on the Executive Committee. He was also on
the Peace River Center Full Moon Howl Steering Committee. He was
appointed to the first Historical Committee of Lakeland. He considered
it an honor to have served as a Commissioner of the Housing Authority
of the City of Lakeland between the years of 1987 and 2010. Ten of
these years he served as Chairman. Bill was a thirty-five year member
of Wear's Hunt Club where his father-in law, Frank K. Chase, and his
cousin, Monte J. Tillis, Jr. were founding members. He served both as
president and kitchen chair for over ten years. Both he and his family
spent memorable hours around the campfire with their special friends at
the camp. Bill's "Happy Place" was their home on the Homosassa River
where he and his family created memories and enjoyed each other and
their friends. He loved to hunt and fish and was evermore an avid
Florida Gator fan. He had a special culinary talent-his bar-b-que sauce
and Spanish bean soup were prized by his family and friends. He loved
the traditions of his family, especially their Christmas tree. His
family takes great comfort that he is now at peace in this beautiful
season of miracles he loved so very much.
He was
predeceased by his father and mother and brother, Thomas Houghton
Parry, III and his cousins Monte J. Tillis, Jr. and James Parry Tillis.
Bill is
survived by his wife, Margaret
Chase Parry; his daughter,
Carolyn Lucile Parry Nance (Ian); his son, Thomas Houghton Parry
(Tiffany); granddaughters Madison Claire Parry, Frances Paige Parry,
and Lucile Margaret Nance; and grandson Harrison Thomas Nance, all of
Lakeland. He is survived by his longtime friend, Eleanor Mosely, his
sister, Emily Parry Williams of Leesburg, Georgia; nieces Kelly
Killebrew Phillips (Tim) and Laura Williams Davis (Tommy), both of
Albany, Georgia; brother-in-law, Frank Kneeland Chase, Jr;
sister-in-law Anthony Miller; niece Pamela Miller Welsch (Neil); nieces
Carolyn Louise Welsch, Mary Catherine Welsch, and Laura Lee Welsch of
Greenville, South Carolina.
He is also survived by his cousins Frances Pope, Julie Pope Dantzler (Rick) of Winter Haven, Florida and their children Elizabeth Downing Dantzler of Tampa, Florida, and Margaret Welchel Dantzler of Atlanta, Georgia, cousins Michael Gray Chase, William Ward Chase, III and his children Robert Sullivan Chase (Laura) and their children, and Jenny Chase Campbell (Tim) and their children of Lakeland, Cynthia Chase Dodson (Charles) and their children of Mobile, Alabama, cousins Betty Jane Wilson DesChamps (English) and their children, Rosemarie Wilson Edwards and their children; and sister-in law Anthony Miller. Memorials may be made to: Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256; the Monsignor John P. Caulfield Legacy Fund/St. Joseph's Church, P.O. Box 30, Lakeland, FL 33802; or Peace River Center, P.O. 1559, Bartow, FL 33831. A
Funeral
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph's Church, 210 West
Lemon Street in Lakeland, Florida, Monday, December 9 at 2:00 in the
afternoon. Jesus I Trust in You. – Ledger, Dec. 7, 2013
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