Reece Asbury Parham Jr.'s Obituary
Reece A. Parham, Jr, of Fayetteville, departed on June 20th at home with family after suffering a myriad of health conditions. Despite losing his body in so many ways, his brain still functioned enough to make jokes until the end. Born to Reece, Sr and Ruby Mae (Lynn) Parham in Camden, AR, he was raised in Temperance Hill, a small community in Dallas County, AR. After graduating Fordyce High School, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where he met his future wife, Susie. Although she could barely tolerate him in the beginning, his intelligence and charm eventually won her over. The two were married on May 24, 1975 as he was starting his career as an accountant. In 1986 he decided to open his own practice, Sandlin, Parham, & Anderson (now Sandlin & Parham) where he continued until his (semi) retirement in 2020. In 1988 Reece and Susie had two boys, Adam and Hunter whom they raised in a house he designed in the woods outside Fayetteville.
He will be remembered by many as almost always being the smartest person in any room while never looking down or making others feel inferior. To others he will always be known as man with near unlimited forgiveness, unconditional love, and a laugh that could bring light to the darkest times. I know this is what we will never forget or cease to respect. Still others, especially many friends of his boys, will think of his talent for cooking and open hospitality; if you left his house hungry it was your own fault, even if that meant him waking up in the middle of the night to make deer quesadillas.
After discovering his wife had cancer in March of this year he put his own pain and suffering aside to ensure she was taken care of until she passed just hours into their 49th wedding anniversary. While many suspected he wouldn't last long after losing Susie, he stayed with us until he was sure he would be surrounded by his sons and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann, and that they, too, were ready for him to go.
Despite his years of pain and illness he never lost his smile or wit. As an old acquaintance remarked recently, he always had a story to tell with a good, full belly laugh.
His personality and many talents inspired many over the years but none more than his sons. We will miss him, surely, but he provided the ultimate role model of what a man could and should be.
Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Nelson-Berna Funeral Home in Fayetteville.
Memorials may be made in Reece's memory to Pagnozzi Parker Charities, P.O. Box 8548, Fayetteville, AR 72703.
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