Cecil Eugene Parsons

CECIL EUGENE PARSONS Cecil Eugene Parsons, 85, resident of Bartlesville, died Saturday. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M., Thursday in the Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel interment will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of the Stumpff Funeral Home & Crematory. Cecil Eugene Parsons was born June 17, 1926 in Quapaw, Oklahoma to Mamie Vera (Graves) Parsons and Clifford Loren Parsons. He was reared and received his education west of Vinita, Oklahoma, attending Bunker Hill elementary school. He graduated from White Oak High School in 1945. With the U.S. still involved in World War II in the Pacific, Cecil was inducted into the U.S. Army immediately after his graduation. He was transported by troop train from Camp Chaffee, Arkansas to Fort Lewis, Washington, where he received his basic training. During the completion of his training, the war in the Pacific theater ended. Cecil's outfit was briefly sent to Fort Ord, California, where it was strongly speculated that they were being prepared to ship out to Japan, as part of the allied occupation force. Instead, they were later sent to Fort Richardson, Alaska. Cecil remained at Fort Richardson until his honorable discharge on November 26, 1946 He often recalled how much he enjoyed the beauty of the Alaskan landscape during his military service and how he hoped to re-visit Alaska some day. After his discharge from the Army, Cecil returned to work on the family farm west of Vinita. He was also a member of the local Bunker Hill Baptist Church during that time. He married Norma Jean Berry on August 4, 1951 in Huntsville, Arkansas. He and Jean made their home in Bartlesville, where Cecil worked for Phillips Petroleum Company and Jean cared for their home and children. Cecil retired from Phillips in 1985, after 34 years of service. Cecil and Jean enjoyed traveling, fishing and camping in their RV. They visited many of the campgrounds and tourist destinations in Oklahoma and the surrounding area until Jean's declining health restricted their travels. At that point, Cecil cared for her until her death in February, 2011. Cecil is survived by his sister, Rosetta Wayman of Vinita, Oklahoma, his daughter, Mary Kay Marshall of Bartlesville, his sons Dale Parsons of Bartlesville and Roger Parsons of Tulsa, along with grandsons Brian Marshall of Skiatook and Kevin Marshall of Bartlesville. He is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren and 9 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Geraldine Smith and his wife of over 59 years, Jean. PDF Printable Version

Cecil Eugene Parsons

June 17, 1926 - September 24, 2011