Thelma Louise “Lou” Parrish Brown Grider passed into the arms of our Lord October 17, 2016 at Hendricks Medical Center in Abilene. Lou was born September 20, 1926 in Salt Gap, Texas to George Odonal and Esther Estelle (Wilkinson) Parrish. She married Charlie A. Pennell Jr. December 1943. They had 3 children, Brenda, Patty and Charlie A. Pennell III (Chuck). Their life in the Air Force resulted in many moves on the east coast until his death in Alaska on September 9, 1958. It was then she moved her family to Cross Plains where her parents lived.

Lou married Richard (Dick) Brown from Cross Plains. She was widowed in 1970. She and Richard (Dick) Grider were then married in 1973.

When Lou was younger, she was a trophy winning golfer and bowler. She was a member of the Pioneer Quilting club, and the lucky recipients of her quilts treasured them. Later she became known as the “the pillow lady” for the many handmade pillows she gave away and donated to the Lord’s Acre at the First United Methodist Church.

Lou was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Willie George Parrish; Alvin and Raymond Parrish, and her son.

She is survived by her husband, Dick Grider; her daughters, Brenda Wakefield and Don; Patty Heffley and Larry; 1 granddaughter; 5 grandsons; 3 great granddaughters; 4 great grandsons and 1 great-great granddaughter. She is also survived by her sisters, Velma Lee and Patsy Robinson and 1 brother, Garmond Lee Parrish and Louella.

Funeral Services will be held at Higginbotham Funeral Home Chapel in Cross Plains on Thursday, October 20 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow the service at Cross Plains Cemetery. The family will have a visitation at Higginbotham Funeral Home Thursday, October 20 from 10:00 a.m to 12:00 p.m.