DEBORAH PARRISH

DEBORAH PARRISH 01/17/1957 - 04/28/2025 Deborah Lynn Parrish, (aka Debbie Rothrock) our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and friend, passed away on April 28, 2025, at the age of 68. She was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on January 17, 1957, to Georgia A. and Harvey L. Parrish and was raised with her three older sisters and one younger brother in Nicoma-Park and McLoud, Okla. Debbie's childhood was characterized by a blend of hard work and joyful moments. Early in life, family trips to Lake Texhoma were a source of cherished memories, particularly learning to waterski on her father's handcrafted wooden skis. She developed a love for slalom skiing, often sharing the experience with her older sisters while her father skied and her mother navigated the family boat. Beyond lakeside fun, her younger years involved the rhythms of bluegrass music, the responsibilities of tending cattle, and the freedom of riding mopeds and dirt bikes. She learned to play the guitar as a child because her father, Harvey, would come home from his own guitar lesson and teach her everything he'd just learned, and then they would practice together! In 1975, Debbie graduated as valedictorian from McLoud High School. During her time there, she was the drum major for the band, played the flute and piano, and held the lead role in the school play, The Farmer's Daughter. Her high school friends remember her as a beautiful person, both inside and out, who was friendly to everyone. Right after graduating high school, she married Steve Thomas. During their brief marriage, she developed skills in playing the upright bass and banjo. She also observed the Thomas family crafting banjos and she later contributed by creating intricate inlay designs. She was particularly proud of learning the inlay technique from Mr. Charlie Clark and actively assisted with this artistry during her time with the Thomas family. Following her divorce, Debbie resumed her college studies and rekindled a connection with her high school prom date, Jimmy Rothrock. They married in 1980 during Central State's spring break. Debbie graduated from University of Central Oklahoma in 1981 with a degree in music education. During her senior recital, her pregnancy was quite apparent, and a professor remarked with surprise, "Oh! A duet!" as Debbie was eight months pregnant with her first child at the time. A month later, Emily Mae Rothrock was born, and in her own words, "Emily was such an easy baby, we decided to have another one," and 15 months later, Erin Michelle entered the world. Once her two daughters were in school, Debbie taught kindergarten and music at Life Christian Academy in OKC from 1986 to 1989. In the summer of 1989, she and Jimmy welcomed their third child, Kelsey Rae and were in the process of building their home in Choctaw. In the early 1990s, she briefly served as the interim music teacher at Choctaw High School then transitioned to Harrah Public Schools, where she taught music at both the middle and high school levels. Debbie's impact as a music teacher is significant. During her career, culminating in her retirement in the early 2000s, she transformed the high school choir from fewer than ten students to over two hundred in each class. She devoted herself to the development of young people, and her shared classroom with the high school band was considered a haven by her students. They felt safe to express themselves, find refuge from bullying, and pursue their musical passions. Many students remained in her music program from 6th grade through graduation. Debbie was a role model for her students, demonstrating how to love others and influencing their future parenting approaches. They remember her as a consistently supportive, nurturing, and quietly strong leader--a comforting presence during difficult times. While she valued excellence and took pride in the consistently high achievements of her annual music concerts, theatre productions, and various music competitions, her deepest satisfaction came from instilling patience, understanding, and unconditional love. Her belief in every student, regardless of their musical ability, was extraordinary. She had a remarkable ability to make each student feel valued and cultivated a love for music that transcended mere technical skill. As she herself stated, "I'd be a teacher of music, no matter the salary." Her three daughters still marvel at her ability to juggle teaching and mentorship with the demands of raising them, managing their busy school lives, and playing piano for the church praise team. Debbie's life outside of teaching was filled with outdoor activities she enjoyed with her family. Her childhood on water skis translated into a love for snow skiing, a passion she shared with her husband, Jim. For many years, their family of five made regular snow-skiing trips to Wolf Creek, Colo., making Pagosa Springs a beloved second home. They also embraced rural life, raising horses and working Brangus cattle on land near her parents. Debbie had a passion for gardening, especially cultivating peonies and irises. She often used her love of the outdoors as a way to teach her children about scripture and life. After her 30-year marriage to Jimmy Rothrock ended and she took early retirement from teaching due to medical issues affecting her ability to play the piano for extended periods, Debbie's life took a new direction. While she missed the classroom, she continued her passion for music by participating in jam sessions at monthly bluegrass events and, most importantly, by playing for her grandchildren. Her children were the center of her world, and she cherished each one deeply. Ensuring her daughters had pianos in their homes allowed her to share her music with her grandsons and later, her bonus granddaughter. The winter of Debbie's life included her sharing time with her partner and husband, Joe Bessette, as they developed their land in Newalla. She and her 7-acre garden thrived, and she enjoyed fishing with the grandkids, learning the art of watercolor, re-connecting with her former students, and teaching a new generation of children through private piano and guitar lessons. Debbie's impact will endure through her children, friends, and students. Following three successful spine surgeries, she received a diagnosis of stage-4 pancreatic cancer in October 2024. Despite undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Stephenson Cancer Center, the cancer ceased to respond after 6 months of treatment. Her health rapidly declined, and she passed away at home with her husband, Joe, and her three daughters by her side, surrounded by flowers from her garden. Debbie is preceded in death by her parents, Georgia and Harvey Parrish, and her sisters, Sue Rains, Zelma Parrish, and Georgia Williamson. She is survived by her husband, Donald, "Joe" Bessette; daughters, Emily Rothrock, Erin Michelle Ingram, and Kelsey Rothrock Hostetter; her brother, Harvey Therien Parrish; her grandsons, Heloha Rothrock Tate, Jameson Rothrock Meyer, Altas S. Hostetter, Lander Lee Ingram, and granddaughter, Piper Monroe Adams; nieces, Bari Trost, Jennifer Reyes, Alicia Priest, and nephews, Greg Seal, Alex and Eric Capron and Josiah Therien, Spencer and Daniel Parrish. There are 32 great and great-great nieces and nephews as well, with whom Debbie always delighted in sharing love and music. A memorial service to celebrate Debbie's life was held Saturday, May 10 at Grace Church, 100 South Choctaw Road, Choctaw, OK 73020, beginning at 3 p.m.