Doris Dee Parsons

Doris Dee (Crouse) Parsons of Lemons, Missouri passed away Monday, September 19, 2016 at her home.

Doris was born May 21, 1930 in McPherson, Kansas to Milford and Bernadine (Richards) Crouse. Her family moved back to the Hill Community when she was very young. Doris attended grade school at Anspach School and during her high school years she and her sister Polly rented a room in a house in Lemons so they could attend Lemons High School. She played basketball and graduated valedictorian of her class in 1947 at the age of 16. Two weeks after graduation she and a friend (Barbara Neighbors) attended Kirksville Teachers College in Kirksville, Missouri, the summer of 1947 and summer of 1948. Doris taught two years at the Hand Houston School from August to April 1947-1948 and August to April 1948-1949.

On October 30, 1949 she married Eldon Parsons at the Baptist Parsonage in Unionville, Missouri. They lived in Lemons their entire 50 years of marriage. To this union two children were born, Sherry and Steve. Eldon preceded her in death on July 29, 2000 after having suffered a stroke five years earlier. Doris lovingly took care of him at home during those five years.

Doris worked alongside Eldon in the Parsons Grocery in Lemons, Missouri for 25 years. During that time she also raised and cared for her children. After the sale of the store, she worked in daycare. She enjoyed seeing the kids grow. She also did calendars and other work for Dunlap Manufacturing Company at home. Doris was very community involved. She helped with the Lemons Centennial, was always there to help with funeral dinners and was very active in the rebuilding of the Lemons Community Center. She and Eldon loved to dance. She especially liked polka music. She also liked to watch the St Louis Cardinals on television. Doris liked to crochet and was a very good cook. She loved having her grandkids come to spend time. Through Eldon’s Military Service she became a member of the Neal Smith Post 251 Auxiliary which she was a member for over 50 years. Doris was a loving wife, mom, grandma, and sister and will be sadly missed by all who knew her.

Doris is survived by her daughter Sherry and her husband Mickey Martin. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Jamie (Chris) Bates; Beth Martin (fiancé David Gaines); Shea (Melissa) Parsons; Tina (Dusty) Slaughter; John (Stephanie) Martin; and Doug Martin. Surviving great grandchildren are Nellie and Audrey Parsons; Max and Merritt Bates; Joey, Jeb, and Frankie Parsons; Shelby Slaughter; Mason and Kathryn Martin; and Haden Boyd-Martin. Surviving step great grandchildren are Natalie and Lucas Gaines. Doris is also survived by her siblings Gary (Linda) Crouse; Carolyn (Jim) Grimes; Sandra (Jerry) Crawford; sister-in-law Elaine Crouse and brother-in-law Earl Robinson. She is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, an uncle and aunt, many cousins and friends.

Besides her husband, parents, mother-in-law and father-in- law, Doris was preceded in death by her son, Steve Parsons; her grandson Shon Parsons; her brothers Kenneth and Galen Crouse; her sisters Bonnie Robinson and Polly Roof; brother –in-law Leon Roof; and nephews Todd Grimes and Tyler Crouse.

Memorials for Doris Parsons are suggested to the Lemons Community Center and may be entrusted with Playle and Collins Family Funeral Home, 708 S 27th Street, Unionville, Missouri.