Thursday, October 1, 2026
Douglas “Doug” Richard Parrish, passed away on October 1, 2025 at his home in Edmonds, Washington. He was 65.
He was born in Schenectady, New York, to parents John Brett and Mary Ellen (Smith) Parrish. He attended Charlton Heights Elementary School, BH-BL Junior and Senior High Schools, until relocating with his family to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in his junior year. Doug was very active in football, rugby, track and field, Boy Scouts, band, and church.
Doug graduated from Graded, The American School of Sao Paulo. He went on to study at Boston University, where he graduated with a degree in calculus.
Organic and health foods were Doug's passion. Working in Cambridge at Erewhon (one of the first natural foods stores in the United States), he could source foods for his macrobiotic lifestyle (major principles of macrobiotic diets are to reduce animal products, eat locally grown foods that are in season, and consume meals in moderation). During those years, he met his beautiful wife, Nancy. They relocated to Kent, Washington, where they had two wonderful children.
Ultimately, Doug spent the remainder of his career working at PCC Community Markets, trusted suppliers committed to environmentally sound business practices and the organic industry in the Seattle area.
Always ready for adventure, Doug's favorite pastimes included earning a 3rd-degree black belt from Choi's Tae Kwon Do in Queensbury, New York; running three times in the IRONMAN Triathlon, which is a long-distance, full-distance triathlon that consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2-mile run triathlon; fly fishing in the beautiful rivers of the Pacific Northwest and halibut fishing off the Alaska coast; and making his own fly fishing rods and flies. Most of all, he treasured the time he spent with his family and friends and their moments together.
Doug was predeceased by his mother, Mary Ellen (Smith) Parrish; his father, John Brett Parrish; his brothers, Scott David Parrish and John Michael Parrish.
He leaves behind his children, Jason Brett (Karissa) Parrish and Elizabeth Lynn (Anden) Lewis; his grandchildren, Graham and Gus Lewis, and Henry Parrish; his sister, Lynn (Hugh) Connelly; his nephews, Hugh Joseph Connelly and Sean Michael Connelly, as well as his vast extended family.
A graveside service and burial will take place at the South Side Cemetery, 400 S. Locust St., Pontiac, Illinois, at a future date.
In lieu of flowers, please contact Fred Hutch Cancer Center to make a donation: https://www.fredhutch.org/en.html
