Mary Magdalene "Mcgee" Parish

Mary Magdalene Carns Parish, also known to family and friends as McGee, passed away peacefully at Good Samaritan Village on February 14, 2018. McGee and her husband Bill have been fixtures in Moscow since 1947. McGee was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on September 16, 1921 to Magdalene Mary (Lena) and Faud Carns. She grew up in Cedar Rapids, attending public schools and Business College. During the first part of World War II she worked for Life Magazine and in 1943 she met a dashing young aviator, Bill Parish whom she married three months later. They celebrated their 69th anniversary in 2012 just prior to Bill's death. McGee followed Bill during his many stateside Army Air Corps assignments including Madison, WI; Cedar City, UT; Balboa, CA; and Urbana, IL. They stayed in touch with the many friends they made during this time and visited these friends nearly every year. After the war they moved to Pasco, WA and in 1947 relocated to Moscow. McGee and her husband Bill were founding members of Moscow's historic University Heights neighborhood and resided there for nearly 65 years. McGee was a stay-at-home mom while raising her children Robb and Susan and afterwards worked for many years in the Moscow School District as secretary to a number of superintendents. She retired in1984 so she could pursue her love of skiing and outdoor activities. She was an accomplished skier and an enthusiastic partner to Bill's antics on the slopes. She skied into her eighties and cherished her time at their cabin in McCall. McGee and Bill enjoyed a very active retirement and became role models and mentors not only for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren but many younger people in the Moscow community. McGee was involved in many community activities including Gritman Auxiliary, Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, University of Idaho Alumni, and Daughters of the Nile. McGee was also an avid bridge player. Not as well know was McGee's talent as a visual artist and potter. She was a student of well know Moscow artist, Alf Dunn, and the family have many of her works in their homes. McGee was preceded in death by her husband Bill and is survived by son and wife, Robb and Marcia Parish of Moscow; daughter and husband Susan and Jim Stutzman of Lewiston; four grandchildren and spouses, Brian and Tereza Parish of Dubai; Bill and Cherise Stutzman of Spokane; Christa and Vince Aoki of Seattle; and Tamara and Kevin Ledgerwood of Clarkston; and nine great grandchildren, Tyndale, Dulcinea, and Latimer Stutzman; Claire and Adam Ledgerwood; Colin and Christopher Parish; and Riley and Madison Aoki. A memorial service will be held on March 17, 2018 at 2:00 PM in the Moscow First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, the family suggests contributions to the William R. and Magdalene C. Parish Electrical Engineering Endowment, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, MS 3147, Moscow, ID 83844. Arrangements have been entrusted to Short's Funeral Chapel, Moscow and online condolences may be sent to shortsfuneralchapel.net.