Joe Parish

Funeral services for Joe Parish, 67, of Diboll will be held Monday, September 4, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church Diboll with Pastor Ben Merritt officiating. Interment will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery.

Joe was born May 7, 1956 in Diboll, Texas, and died Friday, September 1, 2023 in a Tyler hospital, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Joe was self-employed for most of his life working as a welder, equipment operator and mechanic. There never seemed to be a job too big or too little for him to take or one that involved a type of work that he couldn’t do or wouldn’t figure out how to do. He was a real life “jack-of-all trades”. Joe never, ever met a stranger no matter where he went. He would talk for as long as someone would stand there and listen.

In his earlier days, he loved spending time at the deer lease with his son Jacob, and two long-time family friends, Gary and Jonathon Jones. Later in his life, he was always up for an adventure whether it was going bay fishing or gardening with Kathy. Joe loved spending any amount of time that he could with his three bonus grandchildren, Shane, Abbey and Allie. Papa would ride them around on the wheeler wherever they wanted to go and for as long as they wanted, take them fishing any chance he could, or be perfectly content sharing his extra wide recliner while they watched John Wayne or Sci-Fi movies all afternoon.

He was a member of the Diboll Volunteer Fire Department for approximately 45 years, with some of those as an EMT for the department. He proudly wore badge #515 and received numerous awards during his time with the department. In addition to being at just about all of the department’s emergency calls, you would always find him volunteering his time helping the department with its community outreach programs for the city’s youth or elderly.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy (Bryan) Parish, being just days short of 43 years together; brothers, Butch Parish and wife Charlotte, Bobby Lee and girlfriend Mandy, James Parish and wife Kathrine; sisters, Dianne Ulmer and husband Kurt, Gina Wright and husband Jimbo, and Ollie Parish Ware; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Shirley and Joel Self; brother-in-law, John Bryan, Jr.; nieces and nephews, Casie and Chris Fisher, Chase and Bonnie Parish, Joey Holeman, James Holeman, Forest Holeman, Joey and Lori Self, Donna and Troy Bell, Jennifer Lockhart, John Bryan III, and Kendra Young; numerous great-nieces, great-nephews, and cousins, plus a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his son, Jacob Ross Parish; grandmother, Reedna Parish; and parents, Bo and Ada Lee.

Pallbearers will be Ricky Stubblefield, Josh Stubblefield, Jonathon Jones, Pete Olds, Ben Smith, and Dennis Lenderman.

Honorary pallbearers will be the Diboll Volunteer Fire Department and surrounding Volunteer Fire Departments.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jacob’s Ladder of Love, 868 Lee Road, Diboll, Texas 75941.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Sunday evening at Carroway Funeral Home.

Please dress casually for the visitation and service. Ya’ll know Joe wouldn’t want you to be all gussied up!

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.