Robert Parrish

Robert Thomas Parrish, 64, passed suddenly in his home on Sunday March 2nd, 2025 due to natural causes. He is survived by his three children; his daughter, Madeline Parrish, his daughter, Lily (Bri) Parrish, and his son, Jesse Parrish, as well as his ex-wife, Liz (David) Steele, who shared nearly 30 years with him. He also left behind two sisters, Brenda (Doug) Miller and Wanda (Mike) Brown. He is preceded in death by his father, Cliff Parrish (46) and his mother, Nancy Parrish (64).

He was raised in Garner, NC and attended Garner High School from 1974-1978. He spent his childhood fishing on the lake with his dad and his adolescence attending classic rock concerts whenever he could. He was always outside in nature, walking around barefoot looking at the leaves on the trees. He loved every animal, no matter how big or small, and animals seemed to love him too.

Even though he was beloved by many coworkers, friends, and family members, he never truly met a stranger. He was known for being able to start a conversation with anyone and always seemed to leave people happier than when they met him. He was an incredibly hard worker and always found meaning in the work he did. From starting his own tree business to cutting steel beams and welding to learning the ropes of the pharmaceutical industry, he would always manage to find something he loved about what he was doing.

Anyone who knew him knew how much he loved his children. He was an incredibly present father who dedicated his life to making his kids feel safe and loved. Their childhood was filled with trips to the museum, artsplosure, bug fests, boogie boarding, and haunted house hunting. He provided his children with a safe space to explore, ask questions, and learn about themselves and for that they can't thank him enough. He had the privilege of walking his daughter Lily down the aisle to his newest daughter Bri this past August, visiting his daughter Maddie in Chicago earlier that year in February, and was excited to welcome his son Jesse's wife into the family next month. There were so many ways he continuously showed up for them even when things got tough because that's just the kind of guy he was; always looking on the bright side, always trying to find a solution, always making sure everyone felt like a crucial part of the family. He left them far too quickly, but they are grateful to have shared meaningful conversations with him in his final days. He was a national treasure (to us) and his absence on this earth is felt deeply.

A memorial visitation service will be held in his honor at Bryan Lee Funeral Home in Garner on Friday March 7th from 4:00pm-7:00pm. We greatly appreciate Bryan Lee Funeral Home for their assistance and services.