Phyllis Irene Parr, 90, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at her home in Dahlgren. Phyllis was born in Lima, Ohio on October 22, 1934 to parents Elmer and Ruth Harter. On August 2, 1952, she married Clarence “Bud” Parr at the Methodist Parsonage in Lincoln Park, Michigan.
After Bud served in the army, he moved his wife and children to Dahlgren where they have lived since 1957. Phyllis was raised a city girl in a suburb of Detroit so it was quite a shock to move to a small town into a house with no running water. She learned how to make do and eventually was successful at cooking, canning, gardening, sewing, quilting, and helping to farm. Her greatest pride and joys were their three grandsons, whom she loved and spoiled very thoroughly and turned around did it again with her great grandchildren!
Phyllis was a member of the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church where she had been a children’s Sunday School teacher for many years, teaching several generations of families. She also helped in Vacation Bible School in the kitchen and worked in the church’s Shephard’s Closet where clothes and other items are given away twice a month.
Besides being a house wife for many years, she started working in her sixties passing out food samples at various local stores including Wal-Mart and Kroger. She enjoyed meeting people and was very good at selling her demonstrated products. Phyllis was a 50-year Eastern Star member and a 50-year member of Hamilton County Home Extension where she was a Dahlgren Chapter member and also served on the board for several years.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 72 years, Clarence Parr of Dahlgren, daughter Kay Bair and husband David of Mt. Vernon, grandson Nathan Parr of Dahlgren and children: Delanie, Ivan, Marlow and Amelia Parr, grandson Jared Parr of Skokie, Illinois, wife Rana, daughter Asoula and baby boy Parr expected in September, grandson Braden Bair of Mt. Vernon, wife Hannah and children: Bennet, Hezekiah, Rowyn and Milo and sister-in-law Joyce Kardel, and niece, Linda Harter of Wyandotte, Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son Joseph Parr, daughter-in-law Gail Parr and brother, James Harter.
Funeral Services for Phyllis Irene Parr will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 16, 2025 at the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church in Belle Rive with Pastor Richard McCormick officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. A private family-only burial will take place immediately following the funeral at Middle Creek cemetery in Dahlgren. Memorial donations may be made to the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church and will be accepted at the church or at Gholson Funeral Home.
Online condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gholsonfuneralhome.com
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