Gyles Parrish

Gyles Mitchell “Mitch” Parrish, 86 of Mt. Vernon, died Monday morning February 23, 2009 at the Mt. Vernon Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He was born on February 9, 1923 in Hiseville, KY, the son of Gyles Mitchell and Nell F. (Alexander) Parrish, Sr. He married Wilma Siebert on November 8,1942 in Gary, IN and she survives.



Mitch was a Construction Engineer and worked for United Engineers & Constructors, building power houses all over the country. He was a decorated WWII Army Veteran, Amphibious Tractor Commander on an LST, and served 19 months in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and Shriner and was a member of the Beulah Lodge of Mt. Vernon. He was also a member of the Owen Dunn American Legion Post. He was an avid golfer and member of the Western Hills Country Club. He and his wife enjoyed traveling and camping all over the United States. He spent many hours reading.



He is survived by his wife, Wilma; a son and daughter-in-law, Richard Lee & Teri Parrish of Minooka, IL; three daughters and sons-in-law, Michelle & Kevin Marshall of Mt. Vernon, Laurel Lynn & Robert Haluska of Lowell, IN, and Patti Jean & Richard Coffman of Uniontown, PA; nine grandchildren and their spouses, Lori & Chris Smith, Steven Haluska, Jeffrey & Sarah Parrish, Jennifer & Louis Simios, Jamie Parrish and Shannon Walston, Richard & Becky Coffman, Amy & Craig Giger, Brock Marshall and Blake Marshall; eleven great-grandchildren, Kayla, Nicholas and Emily Smith, Morgan Bushell, Madison, Megan and Mitchell Parrish, Grace and Sean Giger, Taylor and Nolan Simios; two brothers and sisters-in-law, John & Judith Stiles of Portage, IN and William & Donna Parrish of Sunland, CA; and one sister and brother-in-law, Helen & James Bakke, of Dessert Hot Springs, CA; one sister-in-law, Mary Ellen Baker of Munster, IN.



Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, February 27, 2009 at the Austin Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon. Visitation will be from 4-8p.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the funeral home, with Masonic Rites beginning at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in Bellefontaine Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the Owen Dunn American Legion Post #5. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association in care of the Austin Funeral Home. On-line condolences may be left at Austinfuneralhome.com.