Mahlon Parsons

1944 - 2025

Mahlon Warren Parsons (Buzz) February 1, 1944 – August 19, 2025
Buzz Parsons, age 81, of Farwell, Michigan, escaped this mortal realm on Monday, August 19, 2025, leaving behind 3 locked boxes with no hints as to where the keys for said boxes might be found, roughly two dozen pairs of nail clippers, one teal short sleeved sweatshirt from the late 80's, and enough empty storage containers to start his own storefront.
Buzz is survived by sisters Judith (Ray) Frank and Alta Parsons, daughters Katherine (Andrew) Cook and Corey Parsons, grandchildren Alex, Rori, Mikayla the silent wraith, Avery, Zoey who he was convinced was vaccinated with a phonograph needle and Westley Mahlon who he affectionately called Grundoon, along with many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents Mahlon and Alta Parsons, his sister Carol Barnum, numerous pet dogs, and his left eye.
With the massive amount of papers that had been stored in multiple locations one would think a detailed timeline of Buzz's early years would be easy for his children to establish yet here we are… The things we do know (and remember):
Buzz attended McGill for half of kindergarten, then went to Ashman, and eventually graduated from Midland High.
He played the tuba in his high school band as did his oldest daughter and oldest grandchild, much to his amusement.
In January of 1963, Buzz enlisted in the United Sates Army. His basic training was at Ft Benning, Georgia. He served in the Vietnam War and at the time of his honorable discharge, he had received Marksman (rifle), sharpshooter (rifle M-14) and the Vietnam Service Medal.
Once returned to civilian life, Buzz did all the things. No really, ALL the things. He had a number of different occupations over the years from working at Holly Carburetor and Tri City Plastics, to working the finances in the Ionia Hospital. He married not once, not twice but three times before his daughters were born and he became the "stay at home dad" that so many of us remember. He did eventually work for the local lumber yard and even was a substitute teacher, much to his eldest child's horror.
Buzz volunteered with and was the treasurer for the local Habitat for Humanity group in Clare County for a number of years and he sat on the Surrey Township Planning Commission up until his passing; which I suppose is as good enough reason to resign from a position as any other he could have came up with.
Buzz enjoyed many, many things. Among those things were PBS, trains, planes (as long as they didn't leave the ground with him in them), drinking coffee, sweets, reading, planning things – not necessarily doing the things but planning them anyway, tools, telling stories, guns, deer hunting then subsequently sleeping in the woods, and National Public Radio to include the program Car Talk which was listened to weekly and the reason his daughter knew what a clutch and dipstick were in the first grade. He also had a passion for nature and was very proud to be a part of the Michigan Nature Association and Steward for the Alta Warren Parsons Memorial Nature Sanctuary in Farwell, Michigan that was named in memory of his mother. He had an incredibly unique sense of humor - that he may have passed down to the the child writing this obituary, and he loved music; the more eclectic and obscure it was the more he liked it.
Buzz despised pepper, especially cayenne, and only tolerated most pastas. But oh, did he LOVE to argue politics. He always had some political news program playing on the television when he was sitting in his recliner with the 65-pound lapdog in his lap. And once he learned how to use Facebook he had the best time antagonizing his friends and relatives especially when it came to politics - whether he believed his own side or not. But the things Buzz loved the most were his girls and his grandchildren. He may not have been a "lovey-dovey" man, but the way he talked about his kids and grands left no doubt that they were his pride and joy.
Buzz had made it clear before his passing that he did not want a funeral; he did not want people sitting around crying over him, so at this time there are no services being planned, though a BBQ or picnic may be held in the future as a chance to visit and share memories with friends and loved ones.
Memorial donations may be made to the Michigan Nature Association at www.michigannature.org.