Obituary of Thomas Lee Parshall

Thomas Lee Parshall, a long-time resident of the Olympia/Lacey, Washington area, left this world peacefully on June 3, 2019, surrounded by loving family. He was 84 years old.

 

Tom was born June 13, 1934 in Belton, Missouri to Elmer and Lillian (Reedy) Parshall. He was the fourth of six children. Though he didn’t live in Missouri long, moving to Washington in 1936, he always noted his heritage from the “Show Me State” by saying “I’m from Missouri – you have to show me!”

 

Tom attended Olympia High School through his junior year, then received his diploma via Correspondence School. He took electrical courses and did an electrical apprenticeship at Dupont Explosive Plant, where he received his Journeyman’s licence.

 

Tom worked hard all his life. As a teenager, he worked at Ostrom’s Mushroom Farm, then began working at Dupont in 1952. While working at Dupont, he also held a second job for many years at the Dupont Chevron Station. After the Dupont plant closed in 1976, Tom went to work at St. Peter Hospital’s Maintenance Department. He retired from the hospital in 2010.

 

Tom is remembered for his love, kindness, honesty, sense of humor, and wisecracks. When he was building houses with and for his kids, one of his favorite sayings was, “It’s good enough for who it’s for!” He loved to tease, and when visitors left the house, would always say, “Come back when you can’t stay so long!”

 

Tom was very active and enjoyed motorcycle riding, waterskiing, horseback riding, geoducking, flying planes with his son Steve, building houses, and dancing with his wife Laura, especially to the song “Tennessee Waltz.” In the last few years, Tom was a loving and dedicated caregiver to Laura, putting her needs before his own and showing the true meaning of love and commitment in sickness and in health.

 

Tom is greatly missed and his memory is cherished by his wife of 35 years, Laura (Patchin) Parshall, of Lacey; children, Stephen (Valentina) Parshall, Susan (Cliff) Wells, Sandy (Rob) Ledesma, and Tami (Curtis) Dahlgren, all of Olympia; grandchildren, Jolene Harris, Jennifer (Willy) Squally, Jacque (Mitch) Netzer, Jami (Jake) Haider, Caitlin (Brian) Stugelmeyer, and Adam Dahlgren; great-grandchildren, Makaylah and Wallie Michael, Junior and Jocelyn Squally, Payton and Presley Haider, Avery, Claira, and Madeline Netzer, and Booker Stugelmeyer; sisters, Leola Womack and Charlotte Keesler; and brothers, Ed (Lu) Parshall and Chuck Parshall.

 

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Lillian Parshall; brother, Elmer (Sonny) Parshall, Jr.; and great-grandson, James Gilmore.

 

Tom will be buried at Masonic Memorial Park in Tumwater, Washington. His family takes comfort in knowing that we will all see him again someday.

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