Howard R. Parish, 91, of Mt. Pulaski, IL, formerly of Harristown, passed away 1:57 p.m., Sunday July 8, 2007, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, IL.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 2, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, with burial service to follow immediately in Harristown Cemetery, Harristown, IL.  Visitation will be for one hour before the memorial service at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, 2827 N. Oakland Avenue, Decatur, IL.

Mr. Parish was born March 2, 1916, in Harristown, the son of Forny and Orpha (Cross) Parish.  He married Doris Annetta Carney on December 23, 1939, in Maroa, IL.  She preceded him in death on September 21, 2001.

Mr. Parish graduated from the University of Illinois in 1938, majoring in Agriculture, and farmed in the Harristown area from 1940-1985.   He was a devoted and active member of Harristown Christian Church, life member of Summit Lodge #431 AF & AM, served on the boards of the Macon County Farm Bureau and Cornbelt FS, the Niantic-Harristown School board for 15 years, Macon County Regional Board of School Trustees for 30 years, and the Harristown Fire Protection District board for 23 years.

On March 30, 2007 Mr. Parish was especially delighted to speak on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the dedication of the new Harristown Elementary School, as he had done at the original dedication in 1957.

He is survived by his daughter Margaret Ann Sutton and husband James of Chicago, IL; son Donovan R. Parish and wife Donna of Harristown; granddaughter Jennifer Ann Sutton and husband Daniel Geary, presently residing in England; grandson Charles Eldon Parish of Decatur, IL; sister I. Lois Brown of Oklahoma City, OK; and 15 nieces and nephews.

Mr. Parish was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Doris, brothers Eldon and James, and sister Lucy Dingman.

Family suggests memorials may be made to Harristown Christian Church or Vonderleith Living Center in Mt. Pulaski.