Life's Biggest Fan--Chris Parcell died last week and buried Saturday April 21st 2018... article about him I wrote a few years ago

INteresting Folks: CHRIS PARCELL:  LIFE’S BIGGEST FAN

By Larry Goddard

Chris Parcell is someone everyone would like to know—friendly, positive, laughs, involved in many activities, and, just as a side note is mentally challenged.  He has been told someone is coming over to his house to write a story about him and he is pacing and folding his arms and unfolding his arms—I see him from the street as I get out of my car and hear “He’s HERE!  He’s HERE!”  It was the best welcome I have ever encountered.

Chris’ parents are Vera and Greg Parcell and their lives are complicated.

From the first step inside their home, one can see and feel the love of a close family.  Fully decorated for the holidays, the home is full of photos of Chris and his older brother, Cory.  In the living room, there are two couches; a new one in front of an old one; same for recliner…well, just about every piece of furniture.  I’m thinking I must ask—and before I do, Vera explains that they bought new furniture and Cory is coming from Austin tonight to pick up the old furniture for his place.

Chris explodes with excitement and leans toward me as if we will always share secret jokes.  He tells me….”Cory is coming tonight!”

Chris has this sense of humor similar to any 23 year old—Dad is usually the brunt of the joke.  After a short basketball hoops challenge, Chris leans close to tell me “I made a basket.”  I asked did your Dad make a basket.  “No Dad No!” and we both burst into laughter.

Chris graduated from Boshears St. Louis School for Exceptional Students this summer—an event spoken with true sincerity and respect (in a house full of jokes and humor—the atmosphere gets solemn when talking about Chris’ experience at St. Louis School—part of Tyler ISD and just recently opened a newly built campus. 

“Yes, my son graduates and a month later a new school opens!” tells Greg—as if there had been a conspiracy of torment directed at him.

Greg and Vera have been married thirty three years; they met while working at Lerner Department Stores near the Texas Gulf coast—who remembers Lerner’s?  A store that has gone by the wayside along with so many other stores people of a certain age can remember shopping.

They knew that they wanted children and had faith that would be an easily obtained destiny for them. 

“We spent nine years hoping for a child.  We lost one; then lost twins—the night before Mother’s Day,” Greg tells and Vera lowers her head. “Being in that hospital and knowing that are twins were gone was the absolute saddest we have been.” 

“The chaplain asked how we could not lose our faith that night,” Greg said but continues, “Our church family surrounded us at that time, strengthening our faith. I had lost my job and our dog was run over by a car and we lost twins—all in the same week, but for some reason I felt comforted by my faith rather than turning against it.”

Not long after that, Vera delivered a healthy baby boy in April 1986, and the couple named him Cory—he became a gift and talented student and over achiever—but let’s hold Cory’s story for later. 

“We thought we would be parents of one child and were content with that, and felt so blessed,” Greg says.  “I was at work a few months after and Vera called me and said, ‘You are not going to believe this but I’m expecting another baby!”

The couple had two boys within 18 months and named the second child, Chris when he was born in November 1987.  They never mention Chris’ mental challenges and I’m confused when they knew and what was the clinical term for his condition; it almost as it was all part of God’s plan and there was no reason explaining away another other option.

They moved to Tyler in 1992 and opened Honey-B-Ham at Broadway and Amherst (now you remember this couple, huh?).

“Both our boys went to Tyler ISD—one in the gift and talented program and one in the special education program—we experienced being parents at both extremes,” Greg says.  “Chris was in and out of some elementary campuses and then in 1999 he moved to St. Louis.  I cannot describe in words how much the staff at St. Louis has meant to our lives.”  The man who always has a sarcastic joke gets quiet.  He obviously has emotional ties to St. Louis and Vera agrees.

“I was able to go to work and be confident in the care of Chris during the day,” says Vera.  Chris has had a recent stroke and diagnosed with diabetes—and St. Louis staff is credited with caring for his additional challenges.

Someone mentions a ‘hayride at Camp Tyler’ and the joy expressed by Chris is overwhelming; clapping and telling me how much he loved the ‘hayride at Camp Tyler.’ I think of the simple joy this young man receives from a once a year hayride and wonder about other young people and what would ever cause them to be this over the top happy?  I relish the moments with Chris and get carried away with his celebrations.

“With Chris we experience the highest highs and the lowest lows,” says Greg.

His dad asked him to play the guitar for me and Chris is embarrassed.  “No, Dad, No”.  I tell him we don’t have to play the guitar and say “No, Dad, No”, which of course puts me in an exclusive club with Chris and we are cohorts in the retaliation of Dad.  Greg laughs in the kitchen seeing Chris joking and bonding with a stranger. 

We go to Chris’ room and it is full of trophies from Houston Livestock Show-part of St. Louis equine program; Special Olympics; his baseball team—and three worn our guitars. 

“He strums the guitars so much and loves music that he literally wears the guitar out,” says his Dad.

Vera and I sit at the kitchen table and our talk is quiet.  She and Greg take care of Chris’ daily rituals—bathing, shaving, dressing—and he goes to Breckenridge every morning.  “We take him in the morning in time for 8:30 a.m. chapel service and pick him up after work.”

Vera works at Compass Bank and Greg has Tyler Trophy. 

“We sold Honey-B-Ham when Vera said we will either work together or stay married but not both!” Greg jokes but there must be truth beneath the levity.

Vera is nodding in agreement.  It must have been a struggle owning your own business, having two young sons with strong needs of parental support and involvement.

I ask about Cory and Vera lights up.

“He is the best brother anyone could have,” she gleams. “He watches DVDs with Chris, takes him on outings and easily shows his love.”  Cory seems to be the hero in this story. 

Chris loves to tell me “goodbye”—maybe a little too enthusiastic there but it is late and he is excited to cook hamburgers after I leave.  I see him still waving at me with joyful explosion of friendship.  Chris Parcell may be a fan of life itself, but he’s found a friend today in me.

Boxed Information—Parents’ advice for families with special needs children:

Vera Parcell, Mother of Chris:  “Listen to what the teachers say about your child.  Many times, they know the best choices for your child because they area with them outside the home.  Get your name on all waiting lists early.  You will be glad you did.  Let people help you, as you need the ‘down’ time, too.”

Greg Parcell, Father of Chris:  “Chris went to Wayne Boshears/St. Louis School for Exceptional Children from 1999 until he graduated in July of 2010.  He and our family very much enjoyed our time there.  Everyone there, from the custodian to the principal, is there for the kids.  The night before graduation, our Sunday school class at Southern Oaks Baptist Church gave a party after Wednesday night prayer meeting and Bible study just for Chris, honoring his graduation.  Chris loves to play the guitar and one of the guys in our church who plays guitar, Eddie Matlock, along with Tony Garrett, our music minister, and three other guys playing guitar convinced Chris to come up front with them and strum guitars and sing—it was awesome!  The next day at St. Louis graduation, the ceremony was emotional to say the least; knowing we were leaving St. Louis and beginning a new chapter in our lives.  We enjoyed the ceremony otherwise.  The day after graduation, Vera and I went to the graduation dance at St. Louis, where we watched teachers, aides and even volunteer Tyler ISD students pick up several special needs kids out of their wheelchairs, hold them up and dance with them; we both shed tears at the love we saw displayed.  After many months of striving for the ‘right day program’ for Chris, we were accepted at Breckenridge Village.  It has been a perfect fit.  They are awesome and very dedicated to the children.  Breckenridge has a very structured and faith-based program, which is where Chris will excel and do his best.  He has adjusted well.”