Mary Parmenter, daughter of the late Gerald and Edmay A. (Racette) Wurtz, was born May 10, 1935, in Clifton, Kan., and departed this life Jan. 14, 2021, at her home south of Mountain Grove, surrounded by loved ones. She was 85 years, 8 month, and 3 days of age. Mary attended school at Lone Star. She married Martin Parmenter on Oct. 15, 1951, in Sharp County, Ark. Seven children were born to this union. Mary worked at Brown Shoe Company in Mountain Grove and then drove a school bus for Mountain Grove Schools for several years. She enjoyed driving and enjoyed the children she met over the years. She and Martin also farmed. Their entire family worked together taking care of the farm, milking cows and putting up hay. Mary enjoyed being outdoors and was a natural with the animals. She took care of and fed many small wild animals that would come to her yard. She also had two special pet dogs and a cat that would love on no one but her. Mary grew wonderful gardens, canning much of what she grew. She made the best salsa ever. She also had beautiful flowers. In her spare time, she enjoyed word puzzles as well as jigsaw puzzles and had several of her puzzles framed. Her most treasured time was when she was together with her family. Mary was saved and baptized and had been a part of the Calvary Temple church family for many years. She loved reading her Bible and would often be found in her chair with her Bible on her lap. Besides her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Martin, on Feb. 20, 1998; one son, David Parmenter; two brothers, Jim Wurtz and Don Wurtz; and one sister, Evelyn Hedke. She is survived by three sons, Bill, Richard and Danny Parmenter; three daughters, Edna Miller and her husband, Richard, Opal Neal and her husband, Randall, and Dolly McCleary and her husband, David, all of Mountain Grove; four brothers, Charles Wurtz, of Topeka, Kan.; Derald Wurtz, of Leroy, Kan.; Larry Wurtz, of Columbia, S.C.; and Jack Wurtz, of Clyde, Kan.; two sisters, Sharon McDaniel and Trudy Weir, both of Topeka, Kan.; 20 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren; and many other relatives, neighbors, friends and church family who will dearly miss her. Visitation for Mary Parmenter was held Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at Calvary Temple Church from 5-7 p.m. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, at 10:30 a.m., also at the church, with Pastor Nathan Goad and Pastor Bill Morris officiating. Song selections were “I Can Only Imagine,” “Amazing Grace” and “It Is Well With My Soul.” Cody Tollison, Jeremy Barker, Nick Miller, Blake Miller, Nathaniel Miller and Doug Miller served as pallbearers. Johnathon Miller and Dyllon Mathews served as honorary pallbearers. Burial was in Lone Star Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to Lone Star Cemetery in care of the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
