Harry Curtis “Butch” “Heck” Parrish, Jr., 74, of Paris, passed away at 8:14 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2017, at Paris Community Hospital Emergency Room. He was a former independent insurance agent at Parrish Insurance Agency and a retired officer with the Illinois Department of Corrections.
A memorial celebration of his life is 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home.
Mr. Parrish was born April 19, 1942, at Paris, the son of the late Harry C. Parrish Sr. and Frances Irene Steidl Parrish. He married Beverly Michael Parrish at St. Mary’s Catholic Church June 19, 1971, and she survives.
Also surviving are two daughters, Sydney Lynn (Matt) Machuca of Highland and Abbey Michael Parrish of Paris; two sisters, Sharon (Don) Farris of Paris and Pamela Ann (Dennis) Aud of Madison, Wis.; and four grandchildren, Caleb Parrish Machuca, Britin Connery Machuca, Augustus Michael Parrish and Wyatt Mitchell Parrish.
He was preceded in death by a son, Jacob Michael Parrish.
Mr. Parrish served in the United States Army Reserves and the National Guard in the 105th Armored Cavalry. He was a member of the Paris American Legion Post 211.
A lifelong resident of Paris, Mr. Parrish was the definition of a renaissance man. A standard bred racing enthusiast and a local historian and author, he was at home in the horse barn, playing guitar or banjo, hunting or fishing, watching his grandchildren excel in sports or doing historic research for the county he loved. He was the owner, trainer and driver of standard bred horses and raced at Balmoral Park in Chicago, Indiana Downs in Indianapolis and Blue Grass Downs in Paducah, Ky., as well as the Edgar County Fair. A member of the United States Trotting Association and the Illinois Harness Horseman’s Association, he was the proud owner and trainer of “WhoDaMan,” who won races at parimutuel tracks. He was also a longtime Indianapolis 500 enthusiast and attended many races.
After his retirement, Mr. Parrish became a student and expert in local history. A feature writer for the Paris Beacon-News and later The Prairie Press, his research became books about the history of Edgar County, Twin Lakes and the Paris Lakes and the Edgar County Courthouse. He shared his research on the Edgar County Courthouse with hundreds of Edgar County students who visited the courthouse during its renovation in 2011.
A graduate and lifelong fan of Paris High School, he traveled to games with the late Paris Beacon-News sports editor Bud Wittick and shot pictures of the 1971 Paris Tiger basketball team that were printed throughout the state and in the Chicago Tribune. He loved the University of Illinois and enjoyed the music of the Marching Illini, the Paris Marching Tigers and the Paris City Band. He enjoyed sitting at his sister and brother-in-law’s home on Twin Lakes listening to the city band on the Fourth of July.
In recent years, he made trips to Highland to watch his grandchildren run cross-country and with the Paris JFL team to watch his grandson play football. He spoke often of looking forward to seeing his grandsons play football for Paris.
Mr. Parrish recently completed an extensive story and interview with centenarian Elsie Jane Jackson as a black woman living and working in Edgar County.
Memorial donations may be made to the Paris Public Library, the Edgar County Genealogy Society or the Edgar County Humane Association.
Online condolences may be left at www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com.