Phillip Gale Parrish

Phillip Gale Parrish, 75, of Whiteside, Missouri, passed away Sunday, October 15, 2023 at Elsberry Health Care. Funeral services for Phillip will be held Friday, October 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Bibb-Veach Funeral Homes and Crematory in Silex with Rev. Sammy Lorton officiating. Burial will be in Millcreek Cemetery in Silex. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 19th at the funeral home. Phillip was born December 22, 1947 in St. Charles, Missouri to Charles William and Bamma B. (Mann) Parrish. He was united in marriage to Sandra Marie Zumwalt on May 24, 1969 in Whiteside, Missouri. She preceded him in death. Phillip grew up in Silex and attended Silex School, where he graduated in 1966. While in school, he was active in basketball, FFA, and a catcher for the baseball team. Phillip began working at Ford Motor Co. in Hazelwood immediately after graduation. He was drafted into the United States Army on December 13, 1966. He served in Vietnam, earning both a Purple Heart and a Combat Infantry Badge. He was transferred into the Army Reserves on December 12, 1968. He was discharged completely from military service on December 12, 1972. At that time, he went back to work at Ford Motor Co. In total, Phillip worked over 30 years at Ford. Phillip enjoyed retirement. In his younger years, he liked hunting; bird hunting and trap shooting. He also enjoyed fishing throughout his life. Another favorite pastime was watching Clopton and Silex basketball and softball games. He would often take his grandchildren to practices and attended as many games as his health would allow. Later in life he and his companion, Chris Watkins, enjoyed traveling. Phillip is survived by his significant other, Chris Watkins of Elsberry; sons, Scott Parrish (Linda) of Eolia and Corey Parrish (Crystal) of Wentzville; grandchildren Amanda Bextermiller (Brian), Kayla Graham (Mason), Megan Windland (Austyn), Allysa Parrish, Madisyn Parrish, Ian Parrish, Regan Parrish, and Blake Parrish; great-grandchildren, Bryce Bextermiller, Cora Bextermiller, Henry Windland, and Dallas Graham (due in December); sister, Beverly Norton; mother-in-law, Isabell Zumwalt, and several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a large extended family. Phillip was preceded in death by his parents; his wife on December 14, 1995; brother, Dale Parrish; and brother-in-law, David Norton. Pallbearers will be Brian Bextermiller, Austyn Windland, Mason Graham, Travis Bryant, Brian Norton, Ian Parrish, and Billy Akers. Honorary pallbearers will be Paul Lovell and Cecil Hooper. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Phillip Gale Parrish

December 22, 1947 - October 15, 2023