Morris Allen Parsons, Jr.

Morris Allen Parsons, Jr., 92, of Plainfield, formerly Danville, IN, passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at I.U. West Hospital, surrounded by his family.  He was born June 8, 1931, in Tullahoma, Tennessee, and was the son of the late Morris A. and Frances (Gammill) Parsons, Sr.

Allen graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1949, received a B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Tennessee in Memphis, TN in 1952, and got a Masters Degree in Adult Education from Indiana University in 1985.  After graduating from UT, Allen went on to serve his country in the United States Army Medical Corp. during the Korean War from 1953-1955.  After his time in the military, he returned to Tullahoma to help a family friend by working in a local pharmacy before he moved to Indianapolis to work for Eli Lilly Inc. as a Pharmaceutical Chemist.  While in Indianapolis, he met and, on August 13, 1960, he married his angel, Judith Carroll (George) Parsons.  From 1970-1972, Allen worked for the William A. Webster Co. Ethical Pharmaceutical Specialties out of Memphis, TN before returning to Indianapolis to again work for Eli Lilly, retiring in 1994 with a total of 37 years there.  He was a member of the American Pharmacy Association, and involved with the University of Tennessee and I.U. Alumni Associations.  He also served on the Danville Park Board for many years and worked for both the Center Township Assessor and Hendricks County Assessor after he retired from Eli Lilly.

He was heavily involved with the Danville Little League as Player Agent and President.  He was also committed to Scouting in various leadership roles both while his own boys were participating and after they had aged out of both, staying active for over 30 years.  In the 80's, he organized two Little League State Championships which were held in Danville, and was honored by the Boy Scouts with the distinctions of the Order of the Arrow and Silver Beaver, for his lifetime dedication to Scouting.  Growing up with railroad tracks in his front yard, he was an avid lover of everything trains, from model to full-size.  Many family trips included side jaunts to see trains or go to model train shows or museums.  He enjoyed genealogy and researching historical information for places including many in Danville, IN, and in his childhood home of Tullahoma, TN.  He and Carroll also enjoyed traveling, one of his favorite trips being Cotswold, England which was a trip with fellow University of Tennessee graduates.  In addition to his unwavering support of University of Tennessee athletics, he was a fan of the Cincinnati Reds and was an original season ticket holder for the Indianapolis Colts, a tradition that was passed down to his son.

Allen is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carroll Parsons; children, Earl (Veronica St. Cyr) Parsons of Thorntown, Chuck (Tracie) Parsons of Plainfield, Mitch (Jennifer Christy) Parsons of Carmel; grandchildren, Belle, Elisha, Edith, Bonnie, Jules, Violet, and Josey Parsons, Amanda Thompson, Kevin and Adam Summers, Alexis Parsons, and Olivia, Casey and Carly Christy; 5 great-grandchildren; family-friends, Doug Wyneken and Kenny Gilliam.  In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Woodard, a son, Donald Parsons, and grandson, Daniel Woodard.

The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 5, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at Helton & Harris Funeral Home, Danville.  A funeral service will be held on Friday, October 6 at 11 a.m. at the funeral home.  Cremation will follow.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be offered to the Boy Scouts of America or the University of Tennessee.