Janis (Thee) Parsons

Janis Parsons of Guthrie, Oklahoma, died October 29, 2023, at age 81.

Jan was born June 1, 1942, in Davenport, Iowa, to John and Evelyn Thee of Donahue, Iowa. She attended Allens Grove #2 school in Scott County, a one room school house with grades kindergarten through eighth. Indoor plumbing was not installed until she was in seventh grade. But it was a great educational experience that in addition to learning the three R’s, “reading, riting and rithmatic”, it included theater, music, dancing, art and even a school trip to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and the Brookfield Zoo.

After her parents’ death in 1954, she was raised by her maternal grandparents, Honnis and Ella Wehde. Upon graduating from Tipton Community High School, Tipton, Iowa, in 1960, she attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

On September 20, 1962, she married Howard Parsons in Orange, California. Being married to a Navy man, she moved several many times living in California, Virginia and Rhode Island. For most of her life, she worked in the retail and food service industries, lastly with Love’s Travel Stop where she worked for several years prior to her retirement.

She loved her purebred schipperkes, which she raised and showed at dog shows winning several prizes. Her passion was following the Oklahoma State Cowboys football team, the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, the Green Bay Packers….and whoever was playing the Dallas Cowboys. The Iowa State Cyclones were okay, too.

Jan was a very independent person who did not like to ask for help, but was always willing to help others.

She is survived by her brothers Robert Thee, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Richard (Lois) Wehde, Altoona, Iowa, Ruel (Janet) Wehde, Tipton, Iowa, Larry (Judy) Wehde, Gonzales, Texas, and sister Cindy (Rich) Hambright, West Liberty, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, and husband Howard E. Parsons.

A memorial service will be held at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, Iowa, at 11 a.m. on November 17. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society.

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