WESLEY "WES" H. PARSLEY, SR., 68, of 42 Clarkson Avenue, Pittsfield, died Friday morning at Hillcrest Commons where he had resided the past month after a long illness. Prior to moving back to Pittsfield in 2003, he had lived in Sacramento, California, for many years.
Born in Pittsfield, July 21, 1939, a son of the late Ernest and Helen Anthony
Parsley, he was educated in Pittsfield, West Stockbridge, and Richmond schools.
A Korean War veteran, he entered the United States Marine Corps on May 23, 1957, and served with the 2nd Bat.8th Marine Division at Camp Lejune, North Carolina.
He was also stationed at Beirut, Lebanon as a mortar man and small firearms proof
director until his honorable discharge on April 22, 1959. He was also the recipient of the Good Conduct Medal.
Mr. Parsley was employed by the United States Postal Service in Sacramento,
California, in the mailroom where he worked for 23 years before retiring due to ill health on July 31, 2001.
While in Pittsfield, he worked for the former Newton's Dairy and the former
Adams Supermarket on West Street.
He was a former member of Immanuel Community Church. He was a member
of the American Postal Workers Union and a member of the Moose Lodge 2022 in North
Sacramento. He enjoyed computer jig saw puzzles and loved old television shows and
movies. In his younger years, he was an avid square dancer.Mr. Parsley leaves his wife, the former Viola Crandall Tatro Parsley of Sacramento, CA whom he married November 5, 1977 in Pittsfield.
Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, David W. Parsley of Valrico,
Florida, Garry A. Parsley of Pittsfield, and Wesley H. McBain of Belchertown; two step-daughters, Josephine Bergdall of the State of Wisconsin and Rose Lefebvre of Pittsfield; a sister, Dorothy A. Burchard of Pittsfield with whom he resided; nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren; and his former wife, Judy Parsley Irwin of Pittsfield. He was pre-deceased by a son, Steven J. Parsley who died July 29, 1995.

FUNERAL NOTICE: Funeral services for WESLEY "WES" H. PARSLEY, SR., who died Friday,
September 21, 2007 will be Wednesday, September 26, at 12:30 p.m., at DERY FUNERAL HOME, with Rev. John T. Cunningham, pastor of Immanuel Community Church, officiating. Burial with military honors, will follow in Richmond Cemetery. Calling hours will precede the service from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers,
contributions in memory of Mr. Parsley may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation,
1 Bullfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114.
Mr. Parsley is also survived by his daughters-in-law Dawn (David) and her
children, Dawn (Garry), and Danielle (Wesley); his sister-in-law, Patricia Parsley of
Pittsfield, and his good friend, "Lucky", the visiting dog at Hillcrest Commons who was an inspiration of hope to the residents. He was also pre-deceased by his brother, Ernest W. Parsley, Jr., who died April 26, 1997.