Mary Catherine Parnell, age 83, made the transition from our world peacefully to the Kingdom of Glory on Thursday, May 21, 2020. Mary had battled cancer three times in life and each time God delivered her from it but she succumbed to complications from surgery. She was surrounded by her family and she knew she was loved. Her testimony for Christ was reinforced many times and her legacy to her family, extended family and New Beginnings Church, would be faith in our Lord Jesus, hope for healing through Christ and charity to people to whom she might provide help.
Mary was kind, generous and had a light hearted sense of humor. Mary was a longtime resident of Bangs, Texas and had several jobs serving the community over the years. Many might remember her as the US-67 crossing guard for Bangs ISD and her green station wagon, or from her work in the school cafeterias at Bangs and possibly from her work maintaining the Bangs US Post Office. Most will remember her as the widow of Doyle Parnell because of his many years of service to the community as a City of Bangs employee.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Charles Harper and Susie Harper Watson; her husband Doyle Parnell; her siblings, Charles Franklin Harper, Jr., Robert Carl Harper, Patsy Irene Morgan; her son, Ricky Ray MacDonald; and her daughter, Lisa Jean Moy.
She is survived by her children, Thomas E. MacDonald and wife Deborah of Norfolk, Virginia, Gregory E. MacDonald and wife Letisia of Bangs, Kathy E. Harper of Houston; stepdaughters, Tracey Greenwood and husband Jerry of Bangs, Michelle Parnell and Nature Parnell both of Oklahoma; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family will host a visitation on Sunday, May 24, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 W. Pecan Street, in Coleman.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 25, at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kelly Crenshaw, officiating. The service will be live-streamed on her obituary page on our website at www.livingmemorials.com.
Interment will follow in the Coleman City Cemetery. Services are entrusted to Stevens Funeral Home in Coleman.
Remembrances and condolences can be expressed to the family at www.livingmemorials.com.
In accordance with the recommendations regarding COVID-19, we suggest social distancing and wearing a face mask.
