Linda M. Parish

Linda M Parish was born February, 1942 and died September 17, 2026. She was born in Washington, Ia to Lester and Hannah Fern (Reinier) Messer and grew up in Wapello, Ia. In 1961 Linda married Jerry Parish, who she has been married to for 65 years and been in love with for 67. Linda and Jerry lived in Wapello until 1983, when they moved to Pinellas Park, Fl. with their children. Linda had many occupations in her 84 years, from professional sewer (She often joked about its homonym) to insurance agent, but it was at her job of homemaker/wife/mother/grandmother/greatgrandmother/friend that she found her biggest rewards. As a homemaker she didn’t stop at cooking and cleaning, she worked right alongside Jerry in remodeling each home and he would sometimes come home to find a wall was missing or the carpet was no longer there. As a wife, she loved Jerry with all of her heart and in her final days at the hospital, upon seeing him proclaimed, “Bring your lips here, I really need a kiss” having missed her good night kiss from the night before. During this stay she wanted little more than a kiss and to hold Jerry’s hand. And on her final day, was still trying to make sure he took his meds and ate and was well taken care of. As a mother, she was fun and loving and a great example of living life to the fullest. She was never afraid of a challenge and taught us that if you had music, even cleaning could be fun. As a grandmother, she was showing the grandkids how to ride a scooter on a vert ramp, climbing trees, attending all of her grandkid’s ballgames and events and sewing them beautiful clothes and costumes. As a great-grandmother, she enjoyed jumping into the fall leaves with her great-granddaughters. Their giggles were priceless. She had already bought and instructed us to mail Elmo for her youngest granddaughter’s birthday next month. She was still looking out for everyone else. And as a friend, she couldn’t wait to tell you a story, make you laugh, and to feed you. She was a great cook. For someone with such a tiny body, Linda had such a big personality and even bigger heart!

Linda is survived by her love of 65 years, Jerry of Pinellas Park, Fl. and their 3 children: Pamela(Parish) Anderson and husband John of St. Petersburg, Fl; Traci Parish of Pinellas Park, Fl; Jerry Scott Parish and wife Lorrie (Laue) of Burlington, Ia. 4 grandchildren: Alan and Tianna (Robinson)Anderson; Nick and Jessi (Dryden) Parish; Matthew and Joanna (Zarzycki) Anderson; Emileigh Anderson 5 great grandchildren: Caillou Robinson, Lillian Anderson, Charlotte Anderson, Scarlett Zarzycki, Jaden Parish and friends who feel like family, Carol Willett and Glen McKendry.

Linda was preceded in death by her parents, and a sister Sandra Reiser.

A burial service will be in Iowa at a later date, but an informal Celebration of Linda’s Life will be held on October 3 from 9:30am-11am at Jerry’s residence at 6250 71st Ave N; Pinellas Park, Fl. Please come as you are and share your condolences with Jerry and the family. And if you are able to share a story or memory of Linda, she would love that!

In lieu of a memorial in Linda’s honor, go take care of each other. Make somebody laugh. Be a little silly. Eat the chocolate cake. And if you get the chance to make a little mischief…well, Linda would definitely approve!