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Parry -- Madeline Parry. A celebration of life will be held for Madeline Lucille Graham Parry at the First Presbyterian Church, 402 West Grand, Artesia, NM at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 21, 2001. Mrs. Parry passed on May 10, 2001 in Pasadena, CA. A long-time resident of Artesia, she was born in Fairfield, Iowa, to Bertha Melvina (Coffman) Graham and Lonnie D. Graham on June 1, 1912. She married Hugh William Parry in Fairfield, on May 26, 1935 and came to Artesia in 1940. Her husband preceded her in death, October 29, 1969. She was active in community affairs, helping to start the Artesia Junior Women's Club. She was a member of the Artesia Chamber of Commerce. As education was important to Mrs. Parry, she served as a substitute teacher and librarian at Artesia High School, was guest lecturer for the sociology classes, a dorm"Mom" at Principia High School in St. Louis, MO and was the first student recruiter for the College of Artesia. As an AARP member and State Assistant Director, she served as lobbyist at Santa Fe, and was invited to Washington, D.C., by Rep. Joe Skeen to attend the Senior Conference on Aging. She worked for the State Commission of aging and was instrumental in the founding of Artesia's Senior Center. She was its first director. Active in the Retired Teachers Association, she also served as a board member for the Artesia Community Association and was a leader in the National and the Artesia Republican Women's Association. She once served as a senior intern in Sen. Pete Domenici's Washington office and was past chairman of the Eddy County Republican Party and past president of Eddy County Republican Women. Working with the American Legion Auxiliary, she started the annual Memorial Day flag ceremony in Artesia. She was a member of the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights and a member of the Judicial Watch. She was a Girl Scout and worked for the Zia Girl Scout Council. She also worked with Eddy County Community Action Project and the Artesia Counseling and Resource Center Board. A member of the Presbyterian Women's Association and the P.E.O. Sisterhood, she started the Artesia Chirstian Science Society., a branch of the First Church of Christ Scientists of Boston, MA. She was an active member of the Artesia Ministerial Alliance. She has received many honors, including the Artesia Business and Professional Woman of the Year, Lions Club Citizen of the Year, AARP Sweetheart, and Beta Sigma Phi Lady of the Year. Survivors include, brother, Milton Henry Graham of Phoenix, AZ; two sisters, Willa Elizabeth Sinn of Artesia and Eloise Margaret Githens of Longmont, CO; children, Billie Sue Parry of San Mateo, CA, Catherine Parry Rempe and husband, George, of Santa Barbara, CA, and Hugh William Parry II (Rusty) and wife, Sandi, of Santa Fe, NM; five grandchildren, Michael Parry Rempe, Stephanie Ann Rempe, Scott Graham Parry, Craig Louis Parry and Michelle Kattan Parry. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in the memory of Madeline Graham Parry to Artesia High School (Scholarship Fund), 1106 West Quay, Artesia, 88210 or to the Christian Science Publishing Society, 1 Norway St., Boston, MA. 02115.
        Published on: Fri May 18, 2001