Gene A. Parrish, age 74 of White Cloud, passed away Monday, December 22, 2008 at his home following a lingering illness. Gene was born on August 4, 1934 in Grand Rapids to Arlie Adrian and Cecelia F. (Siedlecki) Parrish. Gene met and later married Jan Bruin on March 8, 1958 in Grand Rapids and moved to the White Cloud area in 1968 from Grand Rapids. Gene started work with the Newaygo County Sheriffs Department in the corrections department and later moved to the Newaygo County Central Dispatch Office. Gene was the first civilian dispatcher in Newaygo County until his retirement in 1996. Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing, and camping in the Michigan outdoors and had enjoyed golfing in his younger years. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jan of White Cloud; his children, Aaron (Deb) Parrish of White Cloud; Matt (Karen) Parrish of White Cloud; Michelle (Daniel) Sanchez of Fredericksburg, Virginia; Mark (Coleen) Parrish of Fremont; 13 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; his brother, David (Connie) Parrish of White Cloud; several nieces and nephews; his mother-in-law, Theresa Bruin of Wayland. VISITATION : Friday, December 26, 2008 from 6-8pm at Crandell Funeral Home White Cloud Chapel. FUNERAL SERVICES : Saturday, December 27, 2008 at 1pm at the Big Prairie Community Church. INTERMENT: Big Prairie Everett Township Cemetery. MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS : American Cancer Society. Friends may send a condolence or share a memory with the Parrish Family online at www.crandellfh.com