Peter M. Parmenter, of Baileyton, AL, passed away on January 28, 2015, after a brief end-stage battle with Pro¬gressive Supra¬nuclear Palsy (PSP). PSP is a rare disease sim¬ilar to Parkin¬son’s but with no cure, or any medication that will slow its progress or even alleviate symptoms.
Pete was born in Hickson, North Dakota. He and his dad moved to Provo, South Da¬kota, in the Black Hills, where his dad found work building the Black Hills Ordnance De¬pot. The rest of the family fol¬lowed when housing became available. Pete graduated high school there, married the love of his life Mary Birdsall the next year, and began his civil service career there.
A few years after he started working at the Depot himself, Pete became an ammunition inspector. That job would re¬quire him to move frequently. After finishing his training, Pete and Mary took their chil¬dren, Deanne and Michael, and set off on their lifelong adventure! Their first move was to Huntsville, AL, where he was stationed at Redstone Arsenal. He was soon sent to Letterkenny Army Depot, Chambersburg, PA; followed by Seneca Army Depot, Gene¬va, NY; Korea; Savanna Army Depot, Savanna, IL; Fischbach, West Germany; Picatinny Ar¬senal, New Jersey; Seneca and Savanna a second time; An¬niston Army Depot, Anniston, AL; Miesau, West Germany; and Anniston a second time. He retired in Anniston, after 38 years of service. As they moved around the country in his early career, they also in¬creased the size of their fam¬ily: Patricia; Roger; and Karen. Pete and Mary moved to Bai¬leyton after Pete retired.
As they moved, they made many life-long friends all over the world, many of whom still keep in touch. Pete and Mary began camping around the country, finally deciding that Sunshine RV Park/Resort, in Harlingen, Texas, would be their winter home away from home. They wintered there and re¬turned to Bai¬leyton each spring. Pete was an avid golfer, a bowler (once bowling a 696 series), an avid runner (he especially enjoyed running 10 and 20 kilometer volksmarches in Germany) and woodworker. He and Mary loved to travel, from coast to coast in the U.S, as well as all over Europe. They were amazing dancers; other couples often stopped danc¬ing to watch them. Pete was a serious cribbage player, playing every morning when in Texas – except golf day (or days, if the weather cooper-ated!).
Pete was preceded in death by his beloved wife “Miss Mary,” his mother Myrtle Iverson Parmenter, his father Miles Parmenter, sisters Mary Jane Grosz, Phyllis Forgey and Joyce Shultz, and brothers Marlyn and Kenny Parmenter.
He is survived by five chil¬dren: Deanne Renteria; Mi¬chael (Mary Lou) Parmenter; Patricia (Charles) Gilbert; Rog¬er (Barbara) Parmenter; and Karen (James) Fletcher; one sister, Dorothy (Floyd) Smith; and one brother, Jim Par¬menter. Pete was “Grandpa” or “Poppy” to 16 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Pete requested that there be no formal funeral service. There will be a graveside com¬mittal service, on February 7, 2015 at 1:00 p.m. at Cullman Memory Gardens, 1516 Bolte Road SE, Cullman, AL 35055. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations may be made to “CurePSP” 30 E. Padonia Road, Suite 201, Ti¬monium, MD 21093 (web site: http://www.psp.org/donate/ways-to-give.html). Berryhill Funeral Home is assisting the family.
