Raul "R.J." Parrish

Kaysville, Utah — Raul Joel R.J. Parrish passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Sunday morning February 20, 2011 at home. He was 75 years old. He was born January 14, 1936 in Salt Lake City to Samuel Joel Parrish and Janice Udy Parrish and lived his early life in Centerville, Utah. He was the oldest of three children. He attended high school at Bountiful High, and later Davis High, after which he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was stationed at NAS Beeville, Texas where he was assigned as a flight engineer to a bomber crew which was attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ranger. He had the distinction of being a member of the 1956 commissioning Ranger crew and in 1993 was invited to participate alongside his son Chris, a 20-year naval veteran, in the Rangers final cruise just prior to the ship’s decommissioning. He married Jeannine Pope of Bountiful, Utah in 1965, which later was solemnized in the Ogden LDS Temple. They were the parents of five sons. Joel and Jeannine lived their adult lives in Kaysville, Utah in the same house for over 45 years. His career in public service spanned more than 30 years, working for the Davis County School District as Supervisor of Electrical Maintenance Services and later as Chief of Davis Schools Security, where he instituted many programs to ensure the safety of students and faculty. He also innovated key energy management systems that continue to save the school district millions of dollars. He was deputized as a special deputy in the Davis County Sheriff’s Department, later serving as Commander of the Davis County Sheriffs Reserve. He retired from public service in 1999. In his later years he occupied himself with a variety of hobbies and interests, including gardening, gunsmithing, travel, and his dogs. The entire neighborhood benefited from his green thumb and ability to grow exceptional tomatoes — which he freely gave away. “Help yourself, but don’t bring a bucket” was the request on his simple sidewalk sign. He is survived by his wife, Jeannine, their five sons — Douglas (Kayelene) of Alpine, Utah; Brian (Nancy) of Blackfoot, Idaho; Chris of Pleasant Grove, Utah; Tracy (Cindy) of Herriman, Utah; and Joel Jr. of Garden City, Utah — 22 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; his brother Richard (Dawn); and sister Jolaine Randall, both of Bountiful, Utah. Both of his parents preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held Thursday, February 24, beginning 11:00 am at the LDS Kaysville Twelfth Ward chapel, 1039 East Crestwood Road, Kaysville, Utah. Friends wishing to pay respects may call on the family at Russon Brothers Farmington Mortuary, 1941 North Main, Farmington, Utah on Wednesday evening from 6 to 8:00 pm, and at the chapel on Thursday morning from 9:45 to 10:45 am just prior to the services. Interment in the Kaysville City Cemetery.