Sandra K. Parrish

Sandra “Sandy” Parrish, 73 years, passed away peacefully on December 26th at home surrounded by her family. She is survived by her children Erin Atkinson, Brian Parrish, and Maureen Parrish; Allan Atkinson (son-in-law), Matthew Atkinson (grandson); Michael Killey (brother), Sharon Mollenhauer (half-sister), and several nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. She is preceded in death by both of her parents, Glenn and Esther Killey, and siblings Gary Killey (brother) and Shirley Edwards (half-sister).

Funeral services will be performed at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 6800 Tezel Rd, San Antonio, TX, beginning at 10:00 am with interment at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery to follow at 2:15pm. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Mission and Outreach Ministry at Northminster Presbyterian Church.

Sandy was born in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to Glenn and Esther. The Killeys were a military family and lived in several different locations while Glenn was active duty with the U.S. Army including: Germany, Japan, Illinois, Iowa, and Texas. Sandy was a self-proclaimed and proud “army brat.” By the time Sandy was in high school, the family had settled in San Antonio, TX. She received the WRAIN Army Nurse Core Scholarship her senior year and followed her father into military service after college.

Sandy met and married Dudley “Skip” Parrish while they were both in Maryland in 1969. In 1971, they welcomed their first daughter, Erin Gail, and Sandy was honorably discharged from the Army after achieving the rank of Captain. Sandy and Skip had two more children, Brian Idel and Maureen Debra, respectively in 1974 and 1976.

Sandy began working for Santa Rosa Hospital in 1972 and later moved to the Nix Healthcare System in 1978. She loved being a nurse and gave herself fully to the pursuit of caring for people. She also loved to teach and built a preceptor program to develop new nurses into amazing and compassionate caregivers. Sandy retired from the Nix after 33 years, several specialty certificates, awards, and honors.

Even in retirement, Sandy would not be slowed down! She became deeply engaged with Northminster Presbyterian Church, it’s board, and with the charities the church championed. She believed giving to others was a compulsory part of being a good human, and love truly had to be unconditional to be love.

Sandy was well respected, deeply loved, and will be forever missed.