Archie Reagin Parnell's Obituary
Archie Reagin Parnell
Services for Archie Reagin Parnell, 84, of Longview will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at the First United Methodist Church of Longview with the Reverend David Farmer and Jerry Turner officiating. Mr. Parnell passed away Friday, November 17, at his daughters residence in Longview.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Mr. Parnell was born November 12, 1922 in McKenzie, TN to Jack and Mildred Parnell. He attended the University of Tennessee for 2 years, and then joined the U. S. Army during WWII and served overseas. After coming home he graduated from the Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
He moved to Longview in 1948, and married Betty Jean Wood in 1950. He worked as a claims adjuster with his cousin Roy Leach, and later joined Betty in owning and operating Leilawood Flowers in 1970. He was an active member of the First United Methodist Church for many years and the Longview Masonic Lodge #404. He was also a member of the Pinecrest Country Club and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Mr. Parnell was preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Reagin and Jackson Archibald Parnell; his wife of 49 years, Betty Jean Wood Parnell; son Robert Jackson Parnell; and two brothers, William and Jackson Parnell.
He is survived by his daughter, Claire Summerville and her husband Bill of Longview; grandchildren, Jennifer Tidmore and husband Tim of Hallsville and Reagin Parnell and his wife Kimberly of Houston; great grandsons, Jackson Wayne Tidmore, Robert Keaton Parnell, and Philip Carter Tidmore; brother, Wray Parnell of Houston; cousin Carter Leach of Longview; and many other relatives and friends close to his heart.
Honorary pallbearers will be Peppy Blount, Roy Cameron, Gene Matthews, Kent Lowery, James Roberts, Randy Brint, Gary Skinner, Frank Jackson, and Durham Bivins.
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