Lester Adelbert Parish Jr

Lester Adelbert Parish, Jr., 80 of Athens, passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at his residence. Mr. Parish was born on March 21st, 1942, in Wyandotte, Michigan, to Lester Adelbert Parish, Sr. and Dorothy Esther Rogers Parish. Mr. Parish is survived by his wife Sandra Jean Parish; daughters Lori-Ann Parish Donatelli (Bobby) and Leslie Jean Stockbridge (Jon); grandchildren Cody James Stockbridge and Laci Grace Donatelli; sister Mary Catherine Rushlow; brothers Theodore Stephen Parish, Sr. and Howard Paul Parish Sr.; nieces and nephews Carrie Lorraine Langton (Trent), Stephen Girard Rushlow (Vickie), Deborah Ann Farrell, Susan Gay Soblesky, Mechelle Esther Gardner (Gary), Theodore Stephen Parish, Jr., Lisa Marie Kaspriak, Nicole Renee Hales (Thomas), Howard Paul Parish, Jr. (Heather), Robert Ureckis (Karen), David Ureckis (Janis), Margaret Helen Bird; great-nieces and nephews Ethan Donald Langton, Nicole Renae Stump (Stephen), Aaron Keith Rushlow, Brandon James Farrell, Quinn Kaspriak, Alex Kaspriak, Jacob Kaspriak, Brianna Rose Hales, Lena Renee Hales, Adelynn Hales, Henrik Allen Parish, Hadley Rose Parish, Tiffany Klouder, Jordan Hamilton (Andy), Kendal Ureckis, Joshua Clay Bird, Nicholas Bird (Sage), Andrea Bird; great-great-nieces and nephews Skylar Elaine Stump, Alivia Lynn Rushlow, Carter Wayne Rushlow, Lucy Ureckis, Koda Bird, and Rowyn Clay Bird. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester A. Parish, Sr. and Dorothy Rogers Parish; brother-in-law Donald Rushlow; sister Esther Gay Parish Waeghe; niece Ann Marie Parish Hufford; sister-in-law Kathleen Rose Parish; brother-in-law Lowell Clay Steele; sister-in-law Linda McCall Smith; and mother-in-law Helen Mae Steele. Services for Mr. Parish will be Saturday, February 25th, 2023, at Friendship Church. Visitation will start at 11:00am and the service will be at 12:00pm. Mr. Parish grew up in Wyandotte, Michigan. In his family, he grew up in the middle with two older sisters and 2 younger brothers, and he loved his family very much. He loved to play sports, including playing ball, and he loved competing in bowling leagues and golfing. He was a faithful member of the church that he grew up in. His mother volunteered him to learn and run the new dishwasher back then. Lester met Sandra Steele at the candy stand at Theodore Roosevelt High School and they went to the Senior Prom that year. On the back of his senior prom picture, Sandy wrote what a wonderful night and that some day they would marry. Les never saw the back of the photo until after they were married. They did marry in 1964 and were married for fifty-eight and a half years. Les was determined to take care of Sandy, and was always known for saying, “I need to take care of her!” They have two children and two grandchildren. Family and friends have been a constant part of Les and Sandy’s lives. Their greatest joy has been family and friends who have become extended family. As a child, Les was diagnosed with asthma, and his parents were prompted by his doctor to go north. This became an amazing blessing to all of Les and Sandy’s family and friends by “going up north,” where they enjoyed camping, boating, laughing, and loving life right. Les and Sandy had two girls, Lori-Ann and Leslie, who both went to college because their parents wanted them to be educated and provided for, no matter what. Lori-Ann married Robert Donatelli and Leslie married Jon Stockbridge. The first grandchild, Cody James, was born two weeks after Les was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer in 1999, and is the biggest blessing and an amazing grandson to Grandpa. He loved every moment with his grandson and mentored him in multiple ways. They worked together serving at the Lion’s Club Kiddie Carnival. Cody followed Grandpa’s example, working hard with a servant’s heart, loving and laughing all the way. He was so proud of him, Les would say, “That’s my grandson!” Les was called the “Miracle Man” with Roy Keller at Friendship Church. Bobby and Lori waited thirteen years of their marriage for their “miracle child,” Laci Grace Donatelli. Les got to witness the birth of “his beautiful granddaughter.” Her name means joyful and filled with the praise for the Lord. When Cody James held her for the first time, he said “she was worth the wait!” Both grandchildren were raised here in Alabama, with Les and Sandy’s loving family all together. He saved and treasured keepsakes from both grandchildren, including crafts, cards, and gifts. He loved spoiling them and spending time with them. He would take them for vanilla ice cream at Kreme Delite and going to the Duck Pond. He treasured every moment! Les enjoyed serving and leading in Men’s Ministry at Friendship Church. He was a member of the Lion’s Club, a part of the Limestone County Cancer Support Group, and active in Relay for Life. We the family, all thank God for the wonderful, serving, giving man Les was. He always had a smile, a way to serve others, and as the oncologist said, “a rare heart!” In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made in Mr. Parish’s memory to Friendship Church.

Lester Adelbert Parish Jr

March 21, 1942 - February 21, 2023