In Loving Memory Tirzah R. Parsons
(November 11th, 1925 – September 27th 2023)
Born November 11, 1925, to Freida May and Kenneth McKinley Coast in Van, Pennsylvania, the eldest of eight siblings. Tirzah lived with her grandparents for many years until Kenneth got a job in the Bradford oil fields working for family during the Great Depression. After, they lived in Coryville, PA for a few years, and eventually moved to Prenticeville where she lived next door to Charles Parsons, who would become her husband many years later. Tirzah graduated from Otto High School in the year 1943 with her dear friend, and sister of Charles, Patricia Parsons (Romans).
She then joined the Cadet Nurses Corp in 1944 to assist the war efforts, training in Buffalo City Hospital in New York State. 18 months passed and men started returning from war, she then left nurses training to marry Russell Burroughs Parrett in 1946. They took residence in the Bradford area and had three sons, Ronald Theodore Parrett b. 1947, David Theron Parrett b. 1948, and Randall Chris Parrett b. 1961. In 1965, she began taking classes at the University of Pittsburgh and Clarion State Teachers College. She received her degree in 1970. After her divorce from Russell, she remained in Custer City to teach for two years at the elementary school. She reconnected with her childhood neighbor and friend, Charles Clinton Parsons, and after years of sending voice memos on tape to each other, they were married in 1973. Tirzah and Randy then moved to Alaska to join the Parsons family of Charles, Lance, Cass, and Charlie.
After moving, she taught in Ninilchik for four and a half years before moving to East Homer Elementary, (aka Paul Banks), and taught in Homer until she retired when her granddaughter Amanda was born in 1989. Tirzah was preceded in death by her sons Ronald d. 1974, and David d. 2006, her siblings, and late husband Charles d. 2006. Over the years Tirzah enjoyed making beautiful banners for the Methodist Church and sewing magnificent quilts. She traveled when she could to many states to visit family or spend time in the sun. She could always be found working on her crossword puzzles after reading her daily
devotionals. Every Friday night she hosted her friends at her home for a round of dominoes, for decades.
Tirzah spent her life as a devout Methodist, spending much of her time at Homer United Methodist Church in the choir, as the organist for a decade, and joined the United Methodist Women. She spread Gods love wherever and whenever she could. She was well known and loved throughout the community she lived 50 years of her life in.
She is survived by her son Randall, his wife Marilyn, their two daughters Casey and Amanda Parrett; her stepchildren Lance, Cass, and Charlie Parsons, her step-grandchildren, Caitlin and Tom Crandall, and step-great-grandchildren Logan, Hazel, and Holden Crandall.
A memorial will be held at 2PM on November 11th, Tirzah’s 98th birthday, at the Homer United Methodist Church
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to
Hospice of Homer
https://www.hospiceofhomer.org/donate
Or Contact; 907-235-6899
