Parsons, Edison J.

Passed: 2001-06-18

Age: 83

Source: Charleston Daily Mail

Death Notice:

Obituary Date: 2001-06-19

Information: RIPLEY - Edison J. Parsons, 83, of Ripley died June 18, 2001, in Eldercare of West Virginia, Ripley, following a short illness.  He was born May 2, 1918, at Rockcastle, a son of the late Herbert F. Parsons and Grace Barnett Krinn.  He was a graduate of Ripley High School Class of 1937, attended Morris Harvey College and graduated with honors from Gupton-Jones School of Embalming in Nashville, Tenn.  He served his funeral service internship with Mays Funeral Home in Ripley and once he became licensed, was managing director of the Mays-Parsons Funeral Home in Dunbar.  In 1946, he and his late wife, Avelena Jividen Parsons, founded the Parsons Funeral Home in Ripley and operated it until 1996.  He started the first emergency ambulance service in Jackson County and was known for doing whatever it would take to provide help and emergency service to the people in need. He was a 51-year member of Calvary United Methodist Church, Ripley, and was a member of The Ripley Masonic Lodge 16, Scottish Rite, Beni Kedem Temple, Charleston, the Ripley Odd fellows, Sandyville VFW Post 3488 and the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge 2492, Ripley.  Along with providing funeral service to Jackson County, he was known as an entrepreneur as co-owner of P & C Gas Company and co-owner of Winterbrook Farms, where he trained several state champion Tennessee walking horses.  He was a member of the National Horseshow Commission where he was a licensed pleasure horse judge, open class judge and a licensed DQP (inspector).  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Avelena Jividen Parsons, one brother, Herbert Fink Parsons, and a granddaughter.  He is survived by a son Edison H. ""Eddy"" Parsons and wife, Dinah; daughter, Judith ""Judy"" Miller and husband, Raymond; two sisters, Betty Darby of Cross Lanes, Alberta Board of Black Mountain, N.C.  Also surviving are five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  Service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at McCoys Conference Center, Miller Drive, Ripley, with the Rev. Charles Hicks officiating.  Burial with Masonic rites provided by Ripley Masonic Lodge 16 will be in Fairplain Cemetery.  Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at McCoys Conference Center.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Calvary United Methodist Church Building Fund, 205 Court St., Ripley WV 25271.  Parsons-Waybright Funeral Home, Ripley, is in charge of arrangements.