Harlingen - James C. Parrott, 90, passed away December 12, 2016 in Harlingen, Texas.

James was born September 24, 1926 in a parish in Louisiana to James C. Parrott, M.D. and Bessie Smith Parrott. He finished high school at the age of 17 and joined the Navy. After one year in San Diego, James was assigned to the Naval Hospital in New Orleans as a Hospital Apprentice First Class in Neuro-Psychiatry and remained there for his Navy time.

He entered Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA and earned a B.S. degree in Biology. Then, James completed a year at Charity Hospital (in New Orleans) in the medical technologist program. Following that, a year of graduate study at LSU School of medicine. He later finished a Master degree in Health Care Administration at Central Michigan University with Computers in the clinical laboratory as a thesis.

It was at the university (NWSU) James met and married Dolores Dugas on December 22, 1949. "The greatest thing that ever happened in his life." Two years later they moved to Harlingen and both worked in the Old Baptist Hospital on South F Street. Daughter Tina was born there in 1956. Madeline was born at the new Valley Baptist Medical Center in 1963. They both worked at the new VBMC, where James was the Clinical Manager of the Laboratory and retired after 38 years and Dolores for 25 years.

James acquired a pilot's license with instrument rating and they made several long trips with that license. It was a standard joke...we flew to Corpus Christi and had a hamburger...a $ 100 burger as that was the cost for rental of the aircraft. They traveled extensively for many years.

He was a Colonel in the CAF, a member of the Chopin Society, a longtime Ham Radio Operator with call sign K5EHY and a member of the Treasure Hills Presbyterian Church. James played the cello and the piano and enjoyed flying as a private pilot.

James was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Dolores D. Parrott on March 21, 2013 and by his faithful dog, Raleigh.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home with Rev. Charlie Palmer and Joe Jaime officiating.

Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home, 710 Ed Carey Dr., Harlingen, Texas 78550, (956) 423-3636.

Published in Valley Morning Star from Dec. 14 to Dec. 15, 2016