Obituary: Howard Emerson Parr

Howard Emerson Parr completed his earthly journey peacefully on June 8, 2020, at his residence in Glazier Commons, Chelsea Retirement Center.

He was born in Manchester on September 10, 1919, to Clayton and Willo Mattern Parr, the third of their five children. He grew up on the family farm on Austin Road, graduated from Manchester High School in 1937, received his BA from the University of Michigan in 1941, and an MA from the University of Minnesota in 1947. He was a U. S. Army Signal Corps veteran, serving in the South Pacific in World War II; recalled for the Korean conflict, he was stationed in Germany, and reached the rank of 1st Lieutenant. His career in education spanned over 35 years, as teacher, principal, superintendent and assistant superintendent, serving the communities of South Lyon, Dearborn/Crestwood, Gibraltar, and Huron Valley/Milford in Michigan.

After his retirement in 1975, he and Lenora returned to their native Manchester, volunteering and holding leadership positions in a number of community organizations, including the Manchester Senior Center and the Manchester Historical Society. During his last years, he collected his reminiscences into a number of books he wrote for his family and his community, including Farm Stories from Manchester Michigan, which circulates widely in Manchester.

He will be remembered for his faith, his wisdom, his character, his sense of humor, his love of music, and his dedication and love for his family and his community.

He married Lenora Haab on March 3, 1946; she preceded him in death in 2009 after 63 years of marriage. Their five children are: Lizabeth (John) Snell of Montpelier, Vermont; Marcia (Daniels) Arnett, Osseo; Miriam (Jeffrey) Moore, Holly; Alice (Kath Edsall) Parr, East Lansing; and Clayton (Lois) Parr, Albion; and many nieces and nephews, including Beth Anderson of Pinckney. He is survived by 18 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

At his 100th birthday party last September, Howard spoke to the group of over 150 friends and relatives, remembering the words of Charles Wesley Brashears, the minister at Ann Arbor First Methodist Church when he was in college. In response to Hitler’s declaration that he could change the world in four years, Brashears encouraged students in his congregation to live by these four lines, one for each of their years in school: “Let every day’s experience be your school: Your textbook all the people that you see: The thought of ‘What would Jesus do’ your rule: The art of human kindness your degree.”

A private viewing and an interment service at Oak Grove Cemetery will be held for the family this week. A public celebration of Howard’s life is scheduled for May 29, 2021 at Manchester United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be directed either to the Manchester Area Historical Society, P O Box 56, Manchester, MI 48158 or the organ fund at Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 7474 Scio Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 where he was a longtime faithful member.

Please leave a message of comfort or sign Howard’s guestbook at www.EinederFuneralHomes.com

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by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and founder of the Manchester Mirror.