Thomas Andrew Parr

Thomas Andrew Parr passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 25 at the Gordon Hospice House of Statesville following a lengthy illness.  

Tom was born in Stamford, NY to the late Thomas J. Parr and Kathryn Watson Parr on Dec. 2^nd, 1950.  After being raised in and around his parent’s general store & nursery, Tom graduated from Stamford Central school in 1969 and then received a degree in horticulture from Cobleskill Community College.  Soon after, he met the love of his life, Mary Lou and exchanged vows in 1974.

While still in New York, Tom enjoyed 14 years with Agway Energy Services.  In the same time span, he made lifelong friends and memories serving as a proud member of the Stamford Fire Department. 

After the Parr family relocated to Statesville, NC in 1987, Tom started a long and enjoyable career with Statesville Concrete, retiring in 2014.  After which, many of his days were spent enjoying the simpler things in life like cutting the grass, mastering the barbecue pit, and being “Papa” to his four grandchildren he loved so much. 

Known to many as “Big Tom’, “Yank”, or “TP”, nobody was ever aware of Tom having a bad day.  There was always an infectious appreciation for fun and humor no matter the situation.  Over the years, friends and family were grateful to watch Wolfpack Basketball, Atlanta Braves baseball, and share a “few” hands of poker.  All while sitting in a basement that was never chilly. 

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Catherine Parr Germann. 

Surviving is his loving wife of 45 years, Mary Lou Parr and their 2 children; daughter Mary Christine Parr of Mocksville, NC; son Thomas Warren Parr (Mary Katherine) of Salisbury, NC; grandchildren Ellen Lewis of Boone, NC, Morgan and Klara Lewis of Mocksville, NC, and Warren Parr of Salisbury, NC.  In addition, sister-in-law Patricia Daly of Statesville, NC; brother-in-law Richard Germann of Buffalo, NY; and a loving group of nieces and nephews that will miss their uncle: Patty Germann, Melissa Germann, Sara Dubois, Christine Herlehy Snow, Kevin Herlehy, Mary Kate Herlehy-Sapia (Peter), Dylan, Daniel, Maddi, Kamerun, Vivian and Haley Anne.  Also surviving are several cousins from the O’Hara Family (Michael, Mary, Anne, and Erin) and John Watson; close friends Mark Petrishen, Charlie & Jeannie Koss, Vince & Lisa Federle, and Ted Bastian.  

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, April 27 at Troutman Funeral Home in Troutman, NC with Father Kessler officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations made to the Gordon Hospice House or the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.troutmanfuneralhome.com

The Parr family wishes to extend our sincere gratitude to the staff at the Gordon Hospice.

Troutman Funeral Home is serving the family of Tom Parr.

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