Barry "Rook" Parmley

Barry "Rook" Parmley was born October 25, 1957, and departed this life Sunday, July 13, 2025, reaching the age of 67 years. He was the son of the late Oliver and Lyda (Stringer) Parmley.

He married Clarissa "Diane" Foster on October 6, 1980, and to this union three children were born.

He is survived by his wife, Diane Parmley; his children, Barry Kyle Parmley and Ashley Brooke Taylor (special son-in-law, Robert); one brother, Dale Parmley; and five grandchildren, Cadyn Downs (Chris), Riley Rose, Noah Taylor, Nehemiah Taylor, and Hannah Taylor; one great-grandson, Daniel Joseph Rook Downs; along with a host of family and friends who mourn his passing.

In addition to his parents, Oliver and Lyda Parmley, he was preceded in death by: one daughter, Bethany Rose; five brothers, Rex, Eric, Larry, Jerry, and Mark Parmley; and three sisters, Charlotte Crouch, Janet Bates, and Niakio Parmley.

He loved his family. He enjoyed traveling and spending time together, and especially being called Papa.

He continued to love and cherish his wife, Diane, for 45 years, and together, they created a loving family with more memories than one can imagine. He cherished his devoted daughter, Ashley, who never gave up on trying to fill his life with comfort and happiness. He was so proud of his devoted son Kyle, who gave up so much of his life to care for his dad. He was always bursting with love and pride for his grandchildren and great-grandson; he adored them all so much. He loved and was loved by so many other family members.

Our hearts and family tree were broken when Bethany passed away at the age of 30 from a long battle with cancer. We miss her so much, but Bethany is now reunited in Heaven with her dad for eternity.

Rook was an avid trader. He could make you believe whatever he had for sale, you needed. He never wanted to pass up a yard sale because he would say, "You could never see a pocket watch from the road."

Rook always loved to wear cowboy boots and good-smelling cologne. Drinking a good cup of coffee and watching Gunsmoke and listening to his favorite country music songs were among his favorite things to do, and not to mention, he was a devoted UK fan. Rook was well known for his love of being in the woods and his extreme love of hunting until his illness took that ability away from him a few years ago. He made many hunting friends who remained his friends throughout his life.

Later in life, he was saved in 2005 and was baptized by Bro. Henry Stringer at New Hope Baptist Church, and later moved his membership to Faith Baptist Church.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, father-in-law, uncle, relative, and friend who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the chapel of the Hicks-Vaughn Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Friday, July 18, 2025, at 1:00 PM at the Hicks-Vaughn Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Elk Spring Cemetery.

Hicks-Vaughn Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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