August 15, 1929 – October 1, 2010 George Parsons
One of God’s most faithful servants, George Lewis Parsons, 81, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010 from his home in Poetry, Texas, after a battle with cancer.
He was born Aug. 15, 1929, to Elbert (Eb) and Nellie Mae Taylor Parsons in Wolfe City. He was a graduate of Gober High School where he was an outstanding athlete. George joined the United States Navy in 1948 and served in the Korean War on the U.S.S. Prairie.
In 1951 he married the love of his life, Pearly June Powell of Gober in Yuma, Arizona. He retired from Safeway stores and was a member of the Almagamated Meat Cutters Union and had many contributions to the USDA meat grading systems.
After retiring from Safeway, George went to work for the City of Heath and retired from there in 1994.
As a side job, George also became a taxidermist and his most memorable project was a mounted eagle for the Texas Parks and Wildlife District Office in Mount Pleasant.
George spent his retirement days working with his horses and training them to race. His pride and joy was his family. He was also very proud of his horses Areal Hula and Poetry Dancer and wore his colors during their races, of hot pink and black with a diamond P. George always loved animals but his favorite hobby was working with his horses.
George was a member of Meadow Lake Baptist Church in Mesquite.
George was preceded in death by his parents, Nellie Mae and Elbert Turner Parsons and his brothers Hugh Parsons, Greg Parsons and Elbert Parsons. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Pearly June Parsons; and his four children, daughter and son-in-law Darla June and Stanley Shipp of Rockwall, daughter Angela Gail Galyean and son-in-law Terry of Alba, son George Lewis Parsons Jr. of Terrell, and daughter Cynthia Gay Hinojosa and son-in-law Jerry of Terrell. Also, six grandchildren, Amber Shipp Walcott and Fredrick of Arlington and expected new great-grandchild in March 2011, Amanda Galyean of Alba, Jerry Hinojosa of Terrell, Anna Parsons Murphy and Chase of Mesquite, George Lewis (Trey) Parsons III currently serving in the United States Navy with his wife Dana in Guam, Tony Galyean and Angie in Alba, and Tammy Key and Jody of Greenville. He also had five great-grandchildren, Megan Galyean, Evan Galyean, Cameron Galyean of Alba and Kristen and Alex Key of Greenville.
He was also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law Dorothy Nell Parsons Ray and Vera Lynn Parsons Samuels and husband Fred of Greenville; and aunts Margie Montgomery and Lucy Kline. Also by Norita and Ray Smith of Denison, Gay Ann Goin Thomas and husband Donald of Atlanta, Georgia, we well as a host of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Pallbearers are grandsons Jerry Hinojosa, Tony Galyean and Frederick Wolcott; great-grandson Evan Galyean; nephew C Ray Smith; and special friend Jimmy Maqourik. Honorary pallbearers are Trey Parsons and Michael Smith.
Visitation with the family will be from 4 until 6 p.m. today. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 4, at Owens Funeral Home in Wolfe City.
Rev. Robert Stovall and Amanda Galyean will officiate the service. Interment will be at the Mount Carmel Cemetery in Wolfe City.