Nelson Parnell was born February 25, 1930 in Lake City, Arkansas to Q. Nelson Parnell and Sarah Imogene Hayden. He died March 23, 2010 after a brief illness. He is survived by two sons and their wives, Kevin and Joanna, Ozark, and Keith and Donna, Republic; two daughters, Kathleen Parnell, Springfield, and Karolyn and Tim Farley, Strafford; ten grandchildren, Chris, Jenni, Sara, Kera, Megan, Paige, John, Nicki, Amanda and Michael; ten great-grandchildren, Kelci, Miguel, Aidan, Kaleea, Daemon, Malachi, Dakota, Zola, Amara and Brooklyn; four brothers, Don, Jim, Delbert and Lee; and one sister, Drucilla. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Betty; and four brothers, Bob, Roger, Eugene and David. Mr. Parnell was educated in Arkansas Public Schools, St. Louis University, Washington University and Eden Seminary of St. Louis. He was ordained to the ministry in June 1961, and served parishes in Jonesburg, DeSoto, St. Louis and Springfield. He retired after serving as the pastor of Springfield's First Congregational Church for 17 years. He also served briefly as the pastor of Gibson Chapel Presbyterian Church in Springfield. He was a member of St. John's Chapel United Church of Christ but currently attended Community Christian Church. Mr. Parnell was at one time or other active in many civic organizations in Springfield: A. C. L. U., Springfield-Greene County Library Trustees, Diversity Network, N.A.A.C.P., Southwest Missouri Center for Independent Living, Southside Seniors, Inc., Founder and President of Senior Democrats of the Ozarks, People's Coalition of Missouri, Springfield Chapter of Reform Organizations for Welfare, Governor's Advisory Council on Aging, and Missouri Silver-Haired Legislature, Ministerial Alliance and many others. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2010, in Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Community Christian Church, 4806 East Cherry Street, with Dr. Roger Ray officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Chapel, Community Christian Church, The Kitchen, Inc., Southwest Center for Independent Living or the Springfield-Greene County Library Foundation.