Frederick M. Parsons, Sr., age 78, of Troy, Illinois, passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at St. Joseph Hospital in Highland, Illinois. He was born January 31, 1925 to Frank "Dick" and Daisy, nee Kiest, Parsons in Urbana, Illinois.

He retired in 1990 as a baker. He was also an active farmer while raising his family and living in Buffalo Hart, Illinois. He was a corporal in the Army Air Corps in Panama and worked as an airplance mechanic.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Allen, Woodrow, Robert and Dean; three sisters, Bonnie Hardy, Vera Dunlap and Betty Scott.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia, nee Simpson, Parsons, of Troy, Illinois; two sons, Fred L. (Jeanie) Parsons of Troy, and Jeffrey (Jennifer) Parsons of New Athens; three daughters, Barbara Ann (Ray) Doss of Springfield, Illinois, Debra L. McCraken (Jake Vetter) of Hudson, Florida, and Polly E. MaGee (David McMann) of Springfield, Illinois; three sisters, Maxine (Jim) Tedesco of California, Patricia (Bill) Ford of Monticelo, Illinois, and Barbara Henderson of Bement, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Ruth (Robert Dean) Parsons; 16 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Parkinson Foundation or Diabetes Association.

Visitation: Friends may call after 4:00 pm, Friday, January 16, 2004 at Laughlin Funeral Home, Troy, Illinois and from 9:00 til 10:00 am, Saturday January 17, 2004 at the Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement, Illinois.

Funeral Services: 10:00 am, Saturday, January 17, 2004 at the Roux-Hinds Funeral Home, Bement, Illinois with the Reverend Dennis Price, Pastor of Troy United Methodist Church, officiating.

Interment: Monticello Township Cemetery, Monticello, Illinois