Submitted by: TD

Joan Jackson Parrish of Durant, Oklahoma departed this life for her heavenly home on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. She was born September 20, 1935 in Forest City, Arkansas where she grew up. She married Bill Parrish on January 20, 1954, and they were inseparable for sixty years until his passing on March 14, 2015.

Joan and her husband moved to Texas in the early 1960’s and then to Oklahoma forty years ago. Their son, Paul Emmett, was born in 1956, and passed away in 2009. Mrs. Parrish gave birth to their Daughter, Billie Joan (BJ), in 1958. She has been the primary care provider for Ms. Parrish, and served her care needs faithfully until her passing last Wednesday at their Durant home.

Mrs. Parrish worked as a seamstress for most of her adult life and also worked for Van Camps Canning Co. and as a waitress. She was of the Baptist faith and most recently cherished her church family at Grace Baptist Church in Durant. She loved to eat out at different restaurants in different towns, and her and her husband would frequently explore new dining experiences, sometimes twice in the same day.

Joan loved the outdoors, whether tending to flowers or to chickens or other animals, she loved to be outside. She is known for loving her grandchildren "to pieces" and as one who loved and cared for everyone.

Mrs. Parrish was preceded in death by her parents, her husband (Bill), one son, Paul Emmett Parrish, one grandson, Donald Koehne, a brother, and two sisters, Louise and Lillie Mae.

Joan leaves to treasure her memory, her Daughter and son-in-law, BJ and David Colbert of Durant, two brothers, Vernon Jackson and James Jackson, both of Arkansas, by two grandsons, Richard Koehne of Tennessee and Andy Parrish of Texas, and by six great grandchildren who reside in Tennessee and Oklahoma.

Also surviving Mrs. Parrish are numerous nieces and nephews, an "adopted" son, Randal Buckner of Durant, and the family pets, especially her dog "Tiny" who never left her side.

There will be a graveside service held at 2:00pm on Monday, April 23rd, 2018 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery near Armstrong, Oklahoma. Reverend Leon A. Veazey of Guardian Hospice will officiate.