Clarence Marion "Bud" Parr

Clarence Marion “Bud” Parr, 93, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Mt. Vernon Countryside Manor in Mt. Vernon, IL.  Clarence was born in Hamilton County, IL on April 25, 1933 to parents Clarence Theodore Parr & Lela Virgene (Cross) Parr.  On August 2, 1952 he married Phyllis Harter at Methodist Parsonage in Lincoln Park, Michigan.

Bud served as a Corporal and a tank mechanic in the U.S. Army during the Korean War era.  From April 1952 through April 1955, he was stationed in Indiana, Oklahoma, and Colorado.  After the Army, their family, consisting of a son, Joseph and a daughter, Kay, moved from Michigan to Dahlgren, IL where they lived for 70+ years.

Bud worked as a foreman on road construction for 25 years.  During that time, he worked on projects that included Interstate 57, Interstate 64, Dolan’s Lake, and runways at the Mt. Vernon Airport.  After retiring from construction, he farmed, raised Angus cattle and Belgian horses.  He served as Dahlgren Road Commissioner for 9 years.  Bud taught adult Sunday School classes for many years at both Middle Creek Baptist Church and Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church where he is a current member.

He was known as Grandpa to 3 grandsons and Great Grandpa to 10 great-grandchildren with another one on the way.  They have always said that “Grandpa can fix anything” and that was very true.  He was so proud of each one of them.

Bud is survived by his daughter Kay Bair & husband David of Mt. Vernon, IL; grandson Nathan Parr of Dahlgren and children: Delanie, Ivan, Marlow, and Amelia Parr; grandson Jared Parr of Skokie, IL, wife Rana, daughter Asoula, son Abram, and a baby boy due in April 2027; and grandson Braden Bair of Mt. Vernon & wife Hannah and children: Bennet, Hezekiah, Rowyn, and Milo.  Also surviving are sisters Mary Lou Salyers and Wanda Trasatti, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Phyllis, son Joseph Parr, daughter-in-law Gail Parr, sister Carol Guchian, and brothers Charles Joseph Parr and Chelcie Lee Mayberry.

Funeral services for Clarence Marion “Bud” Parr will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church in Belle Rive, IL with Rev. Richard McCormick officiating.  Visitation will be held Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of service at 11:00 a.m. at the church.  A private family-only burial will take place immediately following the funeral at Middle Creek Cemetery in Dahlgren, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bud’s memory to the Belle Rive Missionary Baptist Church, and will be accepted at the church or at Gholson Funeral Home in McLeansboro, IL.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clarence Marion "Bud" Parr, please visit our floral store.