Thomas Lynn Parsons

THOMAS LYNN PARSONS, 73, of Maumelle, Ark., lost his battle with cancer on Aug. 18, 2018. He was born July 31, 1945 in Fort Knox, Ky. He was the son of Lt. Col. Norman Welbec Parsons and Natalie Virginia (Ballantyne) Parsons. He had a passion for the English language and worked several years at the Pine Bluff Commercial, eventually becoming managing editor. He left in 1983 to work for the Associated Press as a newsman in their Little Rock bureau. Even if people remain unaware of it, many around the world have read words he wrote while there. He loved spending time with his family, traveling, the outdoors, reading good books, music, and dinners out with friends and family. He is predeceased by his parents, two brothers and a sister: Dickson Ward Parsons, Robert Norman Parsons, and Mary Jo (Parsons) Williams. He is survived by his daughter, Kristen M. Parsons of Maumelle, Ark.; son and daughter-in-law, Ward M. Parsons and Laura N. Smith of College Station, Texas; good friend and ex-wife, Jane R. Parsons; precious grandsons, Adrian and Errol Parsons; sister, Gretchen Kessel Malloy of Bethesda, Md.; brother, Kenneth K. "Pat" Kessel Jr. of Manchester, W.Va.; numerous nephews and nieces; and two sweet cats, "Sassy" and "Jack". We will gather to remember his life the evening of Sept. 22nd at 6:30 p.m. at the Oyster Bar in Little Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Heifer International, https://www.heifer.org, a charity he believed in. Cremation arrangements entrusted to A Natural State Funeral Service, Jacksonville, 501-982-3400. www.anaturalstatefuneralservice.com.