Oel Elihu Parish - Life History

Oel Elihu Parish, son of Alonzo Franklin Parish and Ida Lavisa Pettingill was born February 20^th, 1919 in Elba, Cassia County, Idaho.He was the fifth child of seven, three sisters, Alta, Delta and Eveline and 4 brothers Orvis, Geral and Theral.Ida had the measles during her pregnancy with Oel and he was born very fragile and looked like a wax doll.Dr. Sater was the attending doctor who came to Elba from his office in Albion in weather that was 20 degrees below zero.Ida being very sickly didn’t have a lot of milk for him when he nursed so he was hungry a lot of the time as baby bottles and formula weren’t invented then.

Oel 6 months old on a blanket in the yard

When he was young he had blond hair. He was a good-natured baby. His older sisters would dress him as a girl while they were playing house. He was a sleepwalker.

Oel 6 months old sitting in the yard

Oel - 2 years old

Oel learned to work at an early age helping with the farm chores such as milking the cows, hauling hay, herding sheep, cutting wood, etc. He tells of an experience of riding in the wagon to the creek to help his father cut ice blocks, which were stored in the ‘ice house’, a sawdust building his father had built so they could have ice in the summer. He sold the ice for 5 cents a block. They always had ice for the 4^th of July Celebration and other occasions during the hot weather.

Oel - about 2 years old

Oel-6 yrs; Geral 3 yrs. March 1925

Oel is 6 years old in this picture.He is standing on the front porch of the house in Elba. Geral is 3 years old.Oel loved horses learning to ride almost as soon as he learned to walk.The family horse was named Darkey.The family lived near the mountains and Oel loved to ride his horse through the mountains. His recreation consisted of swimming, fishing, hunting, dancing and going to shows.During the winter he went sleigh riding and ice-skating

On one occasion Oel was helping his father, Alonzo who was taking a chunk of ice to the bobsled and Oel slipped into the cold water. He tells of holding onto the ice with his fingers hoping his gloves didn’t come off his hands as they were stuck to the ice and kicking with all his strength until his dad returned, which seemed like an eternity. His father was able to pull him out of the creek, put him on the wagon and drove him home. He felt like he was going to freeze to death.

Oel jumped off the porch and landed on a nail.Not much could be done, except soak his foot.This left his right big toe numb and caused him a lot of trouble later in his life.

Other childhood memories were lining up at school while the doctor pulled out all the kids tonsils. He then rode his horse home, which was about 3 miles. He attended the Elba schools which consisted of grades 1^stthrough 9^th. One time he tells of going through the barn door and his horse was spooked and jumped hitting Oel’s nose on the top of the barn door. He would beat up the older kids on the way home from school as they were bullying everyone. His best friend was Garth Parish his cousin.

Alonzo and Oel canoeing at Lake Cleveland

Oel went to school in Albion during his 10^th grade year and in Malta during his 11^th grade year where he lived with the Shaw family. He spent many weekends riding his horse back and forth over the mountains to visit his family. He would let his horse find the way through the dark. He played on the school basketball team, was a fast runner and loved all kinds of sports and activities. Dr. Sater patched Oel up when he had a pitchfork stuck in his leg.

Alonzo Parish, Art Barker, Geral and Oel Parish, Garth Parish

Geral and Oel Parish

Oel had many close encounters with death. He told of being drug under a wagon as his Levis got caught on something and he was drug until the loop on his jeans finally broke through.

Sleigh riding down the mountain was fun until he ran into the fence at the bottom of the hill, breaking his nose.

Oel broke horses fro Elihu Beecher. He was optimistic and liked a challenge.

Oel, Orvis and Geral

The family home in Elba didn’t have electricity until after Oel had left home. His family had the first indoor toilet in the valley. His two brothers also served in the military, Geral and Orvis.

Oel, Orvis, Theral, Geral Aug. 1937

Oel sitting on his car in 1942

Oel E Parish before going to war

Oel Elihu Parish 1942 Enlisted in WWII

Oel Elihu Parish - Picture when he enlisted

Later Oel went to school in Salt Lake City where he took a civil service course in machine shop. While there he lived with his sister Alta and her husband Cliff. They helped him a great deal. He then went to work at Hill Field Airforce Base where he worked for about three years in the Airplane Engine Maintenance field. When his draft number came, Hill Air Force Base deferred him for another six months and he was promoted to Assistant Shop Foreman. He told of an experience he had while working at the Base. One day after work he and a couple of his friends were going to go up in an airplane. This was a usual thing for them because they had to get so many hours of flying in each month. This particular day Oel was a little bit late and they left without him, but never to return. They had a plane crash and everyone on the plane was killed.

Oel (middle) Geral (right) don't know if the other one is Orvis

Oel enlisted into active service in the United States Navy on August 3, 1942 as NRS in Salt Lake City, Utah Civil Service and attended the NYA Machine School as a 3^rd Class Petty Officer. He graduated as an Aviator Machinist Mate 2/c, with ratings that included AS, AMM3/c, and AMM2/c. After training in San Diego he was sent to NAS Pensacola, Florida where he spent 1-½ years in flight training school. One day while in training as he was approaching the runway, two other planes were coming in at the same time and they all were trying to land on the same narrow runway. Oel decided to go full throttle and pull up as not to hit them. He missed them but did not have enough speed to get back up in the air. His plane hit the ground and flipped over. Luckily there were no real serious injuries. After his recovery he decided not to pursue flight school and set his attention back on mechanics.

The plane Oel was driving when he crashed.  On the back of the picture Oel wrote "The Ship that done me wrong"

He was then placed over Flight Line #101 where he oversaw an operation of 200 men who were in charge of preparing and maintaining aircraft for flight. One afternoon while taking a nap Oel had a dream he would return home and have nine children. His buddy awoke him and told him it was time to go back to work. Oel was laughing and his buddy said, “there’s nothing funny about going to work.” Oel informed him of the dream and said, “Nine children can you imagine me with nine children?”

While in Florida As a 3^rdclass Petty Officer he as put in duty as a flight line in charge of 100 planes and 300 men. He was moved to an airfield named “Whiting Field.” He helped commission the new airfield by setting up the new light training school, which took about a year. During this time, Oel was incarcerated and put under investigation for grand theft of supplies. After a grueling five days of inquiry, he was found innocent of all charges and was released. He was placed back in charge of his full crew and entrusted completely. The real thieves were soon caught and sent to 14 years in the brigades.

He was then sent to Norfolk, Virginiawith 24 men for a special six-week training. After the training was completed he was sent on a one-man draft to Naval Air Station, San Diego, CA where he received special training and was prepared for overseas duty. He was then transferred on another one-man draft to USNAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, carrying a padlocked briefcase, told not to let it out of his sight until it had safely reached its destination and was locked up. The briefcase contained plans and blueprints that were specially designed for the first ever assembly line of the reconstructing of aircraft engines. This consisted of 24 shops spread out over approximately ½ mile. After competition Oel stayed there and worked on TBY Bombers, P51’s and Coarse Air’s. Many were from the carriers such as the Roosevelt, Kitty Hawk etc. that were in the harbors. While in Hawaii Oel was drafted into the baseball league. There were two teams created, the Navy and the Marines. Two major league teams, Brooklyn Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals were brought over to play and entertain the troops. They played each other on the weekends for about six weeks. That was great fun for him.

Oel served in the Hawaiian Islands for almost two years and was held extra six months after his discharge. While in Hawaii in 1944 Oel played on a baseball team.  He missed the team picture as he was in the hospital with the measles.

They tried to convince him to stay and make it a career, but he decided it was time to go home.   Oel received an honorable discharge from the United States Navy on Dec. 22, 1945 at Shoemaker, California. He hitchhiked to Salt Lake City arriving at his Alta’s home on Christmas Eve. 

Oel & Wilma's first home 144 S. Albion Ave. Burley Idaho

After corresponding by mail during the war, Oel and Wilma Nelson were married on April 8^th, 1946 in the Salt Lake Temple.  They moved to Burley living in a small home on Albion Ave.

 Oel loved to hunt and raised hunting dogs.  Oel worked as a furniture salesman and was sent to school in Salt Lake City to learn about linoleum and carpet for Lester McKeen Furniture. 

Oel took his bird dog “Queenie” to Salt Lake City and bred her to “Old Duke”.  Oel built a dog house and Queenie had 12 puppies.

Wilma and Oel

Oel Parish, Duke, in front of home in Burley on Albion Ave. 1947

Oel and Queenies Pups in 1947

 One time Joe, Slim, Maxa Hunter, Theo and Rosie Hinz went bird hunting.  They stopped at Jerome and went into a café for supper.  “Queenie” stepped on the trigger of Oel’s double barrel shotgun and blew a 3-inch hole in the side of the car and peppered the cars on the other side of the street.

In May of 47 Oel was best man and Wilma was bridesmaid at Geral and Elaine’s wedding at Elba.  They were always really good friends.  Brenda was born on July 1, 1947.  Oel was active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints participating in the sports program, and serving as home teacher and in the Elder’s Quorum Presidency.  Oel made several home runs during the baseball games.  They always talked about the winter of 47 and how the snow was as high as the houses roof lines. 

Oel took a job for a farmer, Mr. England, and moved his family to the country renting a red brick house on 50 E. in Burley.  The summers were busy putting up the crops. 

Pictures from scrap book show Oel putting up crops by hand

 While living there Dwight N. was born on Nov. 8, 1949.  The winters were cold and Oel kept the house warm by chopping wood and putting coal in stove.  He would bring the newborn calf in and lay it by the stove to keep it alive.  He bought a horse he named ‘Sheek’ and rode it proudly. 

He raised animals and grew a beautiful garden to help feed his small family.  The family lived in all three houses on that road.

Oel & Brenda (8-1953) Shows delivery truck

Warren E. was born on June 6, 1951.  Dad moved the family into a home on Oakley Ave. where Oel and Wilma started a wholesale candy business.  Oel drove the delivery truck to different stores in the valley.   They used their garage to store the candy, cigarettes and beer. 

He moved his horse and other animals to his father’s farm south of Burley and went there every morning and night to feed them.  On April 16, 1953 Oel received a phone call and he sat down on a chair and started to cry.  His father had been killed in a tractor accident at his home.  He was 71 years old, so this was really hard on the family.  His mother was watching him through the front living room window but by the time she called for help he was already dead.  He was pinned under the tractor that flipped upside down in creek.

           Barton A. was born on April 15, 1955.  When he was just a few months old Oel decided to move the family where his parents had lived on a forty-acre farm with plenty of space for the growing family.  They built a garage for the warehouse and he continued to run the wholesale business.  Later he gave this up and went to farming.  He joined the posse, traveling around the country riding at rodeos and parades.  He rode a tall horse named “Real Snip”.  He also started chariot and cutter racing.  The family purchased their first black and white television set.

            Randy Lee was added to the family on Sept. 25, 1957.  Farm life continued with the normal chores of milking cows, feeding chickens, gathering eggs, feeding pigs, baby calves, goats, geese, ducks and horses.  Irrigating during the summer was an all day job.  Dad put an old mattress and box springs under the tree so he could rest in-between checking the water.  During harvest the hay was cut with a sickle mower and loaded onto a wagon by hand, then stacked with a derrick pulled by horses and later they used a tractor.   The potatoes were dug up by tractor and a potato digger that laid the potatoes upon the ground beside the rows.   Workers came along and picked the potatoes off the ground putting them in sacks that hung between their legs.  The sacks were attached to a hook on a belt they wore around their waist.  They would drag the sacks until they were full and then sit the sacks up in a row.  Other workers came along tied the sack shut and stacked the sacks on a flat bed truck.  The truck was driven down into an underground potato cellar and the sacks were taken off the truck and stacked in piles.  The top of the cellar was above ground keeping the potatoes cool.

 During the summer the cows were turned out onto the ditch bank to eat the weeds.  The children were placed at each end of the canal to keep the cows from going out onto the road.  The children built a tent to keep the sun off and read comic books while watching the cows. 

Alhough there was always a lot of work to do, there were fun times also.  Every Saturday night during the summer Oel took his children swimming in the canal.  He would tie a rope across the bridge for them to hold on to while he would swim up and down the canal.  He would put the children on his back and give them a ride.  After swimming the family drove to town to the A & W Root Beer Stand on West Main Street.  The parents purchased a root beer and the children got a free root beer and a nickel ice cream cone. 

Oel loved the Saturday night boxing fights and the Lawrence Welk show.  He would dance to the music and then watch the fight.  He really got into the fight, yelling at the referee’s.   He also spent time pheasant hunting and deer hunting.   In the late 50’s there was a homestead draw.  As people started farming the desert the rabbits were destroyed as they were eating all the crops.  Oel joined with several others and help round up thousands of rabbits that were run into fences and killed with clubs.  The rabbits were taken to the Mink Farms.

Holidays were a welcome vacation.  The traditional Easter picnic was held at Birch Creek with a picnic, softball game (using cow pies as the bases), and an Easter egg hunt for the small children and playing in the creek.  Memorial Day was spent cleaning up the gravesites and a picnic after.  July 4^th was always spent in Rupert with Oel riding in the parade with the posse, horse races in the afternoon and rodeo at night.  Oel had been involved in the war and freedom of our country was greatly appreciated.  July 24^th was the Oakley Celebration to honor the pioneers who came across the plains and settled in the west.  The parade, pie eating and other contests at the park, horse racing, and rodeo were all enjoyed by everyone.  Thanksgiving was fun with sleigh riding behind the horses, ice-skating on the pond, and a big dinner with all the relatives.  Christmas was spent around the fireplace with stories of the past, cousins sleeping over, games and usually a big pot of stew.

Trips to the mountains to pick choke cherries to be made into syrup and gathering pine nuts were fun.  Neighbors visited each other a lot in the evenings and on Sunday afternoon popping popcorn and making homade ice cream.  Oel put up a basketball hoop and many evening hours were spent playing ‘horse’ under the outdoor yard light. 

One day while dad was in a tall corral with his stallion, Warren came running through the field yelling Dwight had fallen into the canal.  Oel jumped the fence and went running through the tall hay field very swiftly.  By the time he got there Dwight and his cousin Scott Critchfield were sitting on the side of the bank.  They had been leaning over the bridge catching moss and the heavy moss pulled Dwight in.  He was wearing a winter cap that helped keep him in site and he held his breath.  As the canal rounded Dwight went straight and hit the bank and Scott had pulled him out.  The firemen came and thanks to prayers offered at home Dwight lived.  

During the winter of 58-59 Oel traveled to Sun Valley, Idaho to participate in the cutter races with his horse ‘Real Snip”.   Another man was driving the team and said that he cold tell the horse was dyeing all the way down the track.  The team won the race by a long way but Real Snip fell dead just after the finish line.  He was so big that they had to get a big tractor to pull him off the track.  This was very hard for Oel and he came home, put the equipment away and never touched it for a few years.  He would sit in the rocking chair for hours not saying a word, just thinking.  After Oel lost his best horse he quit the posse and just stuck to racing.  He traveled to Denver, Elko Nevada, Arizona and all around the Magic Valley.  He won many races and horse shows.  He was very proud of this ribbons and trophies. 

Oel was Cassia County Sheriff's Posse Captain in 1954 riding 'Heather'
Wilma made flags, helped design the uniforms and made a piece of material with the name 'Cassia County Possee' on it that went over the back of the horse 

Cory Lane joined the family on Oct. 9, 1959.  Although he was a cute little boy and the house was filled with visitors in celebration, everyone was wondering if the family would have another girl.   Family life was very busy with Primary activities, cub scouting activities, schoolwork etc.  Oel went to horseshoeing school and was able to earn extra money shoeing others horses along with his own.  Oel had many talents and could do almost anything.  He gave his animals their shots.  He also gave his children worming medicine once a year right along with his animals.

Hollie Ann was born Nov. 11, 1961 and there was quite a celebration.  Many visitors came to welcome her.  Finally another girl was added to the family.  Oel enjoyed his family very much.  He was a 4-H leader and his club was named ‘The Saddle Sores.”  He was always very proud because his horses always took first place in the shows. 

Sonja Kay was born on Nov. 22, 1964.  The children at home went to Aunt Bea's (Smith) house for Thanksgiving dinner.  It was cold and snowy.  We were excited to have another sister.

Wilma Nelson and Oel Elihu Parish 1981

Kyle Bruce was the ninth child born on Dec. 13, 1966.  Now his dream of having nine children was fulfilled. 

Barton, Oel, Randy Parish in chariot 12/31/71
with his colt team - Parish Bar and Swanty Brown

Shawn Bailey, Hollie Parish, Sonja Parish, Natalie Bailey, Kyle Parish
Nicole Bailey - 1973

Kyle, Cory, Randy, Barton, Warren, Dwight, Oel
Sonja, Wilma, Hollie, Brenda - Christmas 1984

Oel and Wilma had many years of divorce and struggles, but they always loved each other.  Oel attended every possible ball game watching his grandchildren with pride and yelling at the coaches when he disagreed.  He was an avid fan of the College of Southern Idaho Basketball Team.  You could pick him out in a crowd as he always wore the "Yellow CSI Hat".

Kyle, Cory, Randy, Barton, Warren, Dwight, Oel - Christmas 1984

Oel was riding a horse at the Fair Grounds. The horse got spooked and rared up. Oel landed on the saddle horn tearing a large hole in his groin area. After he got out of the hospital, he stayed with his mother in the Romney Apartments where she nursed him back to health. His pelvis was spread about an inch and a half. He was not able to ride horses after that accident.

January 1979 Parish family at Hollie and Bob's wedding
Wilma, Patrice, Sonja, Brenda, Hollie, Bob, Lamar, Randy, Cory, Dwight Oel
Natalie, Tyrell, Shawn, Nicole, Kyle, Warren

Oel Elihu Parish at Barton's wedding in 1993 (Notice the bandages on both wrists)
Oel had carpel tunnel surgery on both hands on Halloween Day 1993 in Provo Utah.  Lamar and Brenda Bailey took him to Provo for the surgery and waited until he was released from the hospital to bring him home.   He was not able to take care of himself for 10 days, but recovered well.  He could not eat by himself, dress himself and was basically helpless.  He was cheerful and a very good patient.  He had suffered for several months with pain before having the surgery.  He stayed at the home of Brenda Bailey during his recovery and Sonja Parish helped take care of him. 

Oel also had back surgery in Utah.  We put a hospital bed in the sun room and Brenda Bailey nursed him back to health until he was able to get out of bed.  While he was recooperating he called several grandchildren and asked them how they were doing and how their activies went. Clinton had killed a deer and Oel was so excited for him.  After Oel was able to move around he stayed with Hollie Washburn and had doctor's orders to only lay or stand while he healed.  Hollie would catch him doing things like climbing stairs, sitting and reading the paper, going for walks etc. and was determined to do what he wanted.  He was suppose to protect his back the rest of his life and not lift but he did what he wanted to.  He was not a good patient. 

Oel took a job as caretaker of the Cassia County Fairgrounds. He was able to use the stalls for his own horses. Everyone knew where to find him. Later in years he would sit on a chair by the horse walker with a BB-gun and if he needed to get the horses to move he would shoot them on the hip with the BB-gun.

Oel Elihu Parish standing beside
Wilma Nelson Parish's caskett
Gem Memorial Gardens Sept 1996

When Wilma was in ICU in September 1996 suffering from a stroke, Oel kneeled down beside her hospital bed and cried and cried and asked her forgiveness for all the mistakes he had made and told her how much he loved her and wished things could have been different for them in their lives here on earth.  He loved his family very much and is grateful for an opportunity to be with his wife and family forever.

Oel is surrounded by his grandchildren at Clinton Washburn's mission farewell dinner in Oakley Jan 1999
Oel loved his grandchildren, attended all their activities and knew each one and what they were doing.
Back Row: Kit Maier, Sherod Parish, Nicole Maier, Karisa Parish, Kaleb Parish, Nikkala Parish, Clinton Washburn, Jordan Parish, Micheal Parish, Hilary Parish
Middle Row: Deidra Parish, Grandpa Oel, Jessica Parish, Logan Parish, Brittany Washburn (Laying sideways)
Front Row: Aaron Parish, Zackory Maier, Cole Washburn, Carli Jo Parish, Makelle Parish, Tameka Parish, Talea Parish

Kyle, Cory, Dwight, Warren, Barton, Randy
Brenda (Bailey), Oel, Hollie (Washburn); Sonja
Picture taken Jan 1999 at Clinton Washburn's farewell

Warren E, Barton A. Hollie Ann Parish Washburn, Cory Lane, Kyle Bruce, Brenda Parish Bailey, Randy Lee, Dwight N.
Oel Parish, Sonja Kay Parish - Picnic at Buckhorn Ranch 2005

Oel Elihu Parish-family picnic at Buckhorn Ranch 2005

After Oel Parish found out he had Congestive Heart Failure the members of the Chariot Association
held a fundraiser in his name.   Oel helped this young lady learn to be a jockey as he helped many others.  Oel was active in the Chariot Association for over 50 years.  $3900.00 was donated to him which was put in a
trust fund for his burial expenses.

Oel walked with a limp and had to drag his right foot due to the injury when he was 12 years old when he jumped off the front porch steps and landed on a nail.  One day he fell in the street while walking across the street to get the mail.  He landed on his right hand and the skin was torn and layed back to you could see all the bones, ligaments and muscle in his hand.  Dr. Crane did a wonderful job of pulling the skin together and stitiching him up.  He healed quickly. 


Oel spent the last several years of his life going to events his family was involved in whether it was ball games, dance recitals, music recitals, baptisms, weddings, etc. he was always there.  He lived in a single wide trailer house on 701 Oriental Ave. in Burley for many years.  When he was unable to get up and down the stairs easily he moved into Syringa Plaza at 526 Elba Ave.  It was a 4 room apartment set up with handicapped facilities.  It was nice for him as he met a lot of people.  He took care of himself until the last few months.  He had a CNA come in and helped with breakfast, showers etc. and another person came in and helped fix lunch and did the laundry.  Family members helped with the evening people and medical appointments, medicine, shopping etc.  He was confined to his wheel chair but stayed alert and positive.   He loved to do all he could and go with family members.

Oel loved to watch the Burley Parade
Brittany Washburn, Zackory Maier, Oel Parish, Kit Maier, Cole Washburn

Brenda went to check on Oel during her lunch hour and found him laying in bed unable to move.  She called the ambulance and when he arrived at the hospital, the doctor in the ER asked Oel what he could do for him and Oel said he was done and did not want any more help.  He had been sustaining his life with medicine and decided there was no reason to continue.  Because he had a living will signed, the doctor moved him to the Warren House and put him under the care of Hospice.  Oel directed his care until the very end when he asked for the oxygen to be removed and said goodbye to everyone.  He passed away at the Warren House in Burley on June 3, 2007 of Congestive Heart Failure.  He was buried in Gem Memorial Gardens next to Wilma Nelson, his beloved sweetheart.  They had purchased their plots in the 50's and wanted to be buried next to each other.