Enid Elaine Parr

Enid Elaine (Ross) Parr, Age 90, of Glendale, Arizona passed away peacefully on April 1, 2024. Survivors include her children: Constance Parr Leni, Christie Ellen Clark (Brian), Candice Eileen Parr, Cindie Leigh Borszich (Peter), John Andrew Parr (Heidi), Peter Michael Parr (Darlene), Eric Ross Parr, Amy Elizabeth Parr, and William Edward Parr (Erin). Her grandchildren number 21, great-grandchildren 22, great-great-grandchildren 2. One phrase she repeated often is "There is nothing better than sitting and rocking a sleeping baby."

Elaine was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression on January 20, 1934. She was the youngest child in a family of seven children born to Sylvia Jones Ross and Richard Wilkins Ross. The family struggled through the Depression years and were held together by their faith. In her earliest memory, Elaine recalled singing in a church Christmas program while standing by a cradle. Later, she would often perform in programs at the Christian Missionary Alliance church, the Women's Christian Temperance Union meetings, and with high school choruses.

At the tender age of 13, Elaine competed in a talent show (beating out her brother and sister) and won the coveted prize: starring in a radio show on WKRZ to air several times a week after school. Listeners sent in postcards with their requests. Elaine would meet with the pianist and drummer before each show and decide what songs to perform. One day, the announcer was late to arrive, so Elaine even introduced her own show! Following that, an agent asked her to join a program on KDKA in Pittsburg. Her father decided that Pittsburg was too far away, so her dream was thwarted. Her time on the radio program ended when the family moved to Florida for health reasons.

Later the family moved to Cleveland, Ohio where Elaine went to high school and worked in a small café to help support the family. One customer, Peter Puhar, took an interest in the pretty, red-headed, young waitress. After several tries, he won her over. The two went to a movie where Peter proposed on the fifth date. She graduated in June and the following September 17, 1951, they were married at the courthouse. She wore a simple ladies' gray suit.

With Americanization of the last name, the Puhar family became the Parr family and it grew quickly. By age 23, Elaine had four little girls to corral. Three boys came along by the time she was 30. A girl was born in 1970 and a boy in 1973. Family life was often chaotic due to many moves. After Cleveland, her husband's career led the family to homes in Florida, Washington, Texas, and Arizona.

During the earlier years, Elaine often worked outside the home as a waitress, when daycare could be arranged. After settling down in Arizona, she worked for the United States Postal Service. Through on-the-job training and part-time classes, she managed to earn enough credits to complete an associate's degree from Glendale Community College. (When she applied for graduation, she was told that her earlier classes would have to be repeated for credit. That wasn't to be.) After leaving the postal service, she worked for American Express and Discover Card. She retired only when she realized that the additional income taxes meant she worked for nothing.

Throughout her life, music was the ongoing joy. After the move to Phoenix, she appeared with her sister Dorothy on The Lew King Rangers show - a local program known for a time as Wayne Newton's starting gig. A local radio show followed for a time. Later, she was a vocalist with an employee band and enjoyed performing for business functions. Why did she love to drive around town? Alone in her car was the only time she had to sing out loud without interruption. Other joys included gambling, golfing, and giggling.

As the widow of Peter Parr, a World War II veteran, she will rejoin him in death at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, Arizona. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on May 1, 2024. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Sunshine Acres Children's Home.