Michelle Colene Parrish ended her journey in this life on Monday, June 10, 2024, under hospice care in Wichita, Kansas, after an illness of many years.  She began that journey with her birth, along with her twin brother, Mitchell, to Lois May (Doolin) Potter, at Axtell Christian Hospital in Newton, Kansas, on January 10, 1970.   She was later adopted, as an adult, by Larry and Mary (Schlicher) Parrish, in 1990.

She was a graduate of Norwich (Kansas) High School, Butler County Community College (Andover, Kansas) and Kansas Newman College (Wichita).  Earning a degree in English Literature, she edited, and wrote for, various small neighborhood and specialty newspapers in Wichita, eventually working in the technical writing department of Bombardier Aviation in Wichita, a job which she held until her health began to fail.  She was a life-long learner to the very end.   She was a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction, and later availed herself of media resources covering a wide area of interests, including archeology, astronomy, physics, anthropology, philosophy, religion, and theology.  She loved contemporary music, especially "head banging" rock music, and was a fan of movies, which she especially enjoyed streaming and watching in the company of her great friend, Dale Stuckey.   She was a lover of words, a reader and writer of poetry and a master of spontaneous "one-liners."  It is no surprise that she enjoyed comedians and their monologues.   She was insatiably curious and the intensity and life she brought to conversations will be sorely missed.

Of all of her talents and accomplishments she could take pride in, Michelle was most proud of the fact that she was the mother of Micajah Luke.  As a single mother, she provided for, nurtured, and mentored a son who was as curious about the world as she was, supporting him in all his endeavors, and taking great pride in the man he became.   She also single-parented European exchange students, and had continued to stay in touch with one, Maartje Alders, of The Netherlands.

She is survived by her parents, her great friend/fiancé, Dale Stuckey; her son, Micajah Luke, Seattle, Washington; her twin brother, Mitch (Crystal); brothers  Joey Potter (Kim), Wichita, Brian Potter (Linda), Medina, Ohio; Marc Parrish (Sarah), Prairie Village, Kansas;  Ryan Parrish (Erica Parker), Independence, Missouri; nieces, nephews, many friends, and her faithful feline, Jonathan.

A Rite of Christian Burial, with Holy Communion,  will be held at St. James Episcopal Church, 3750 E. Douglas, in Wichita, on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.  A Committal with disposition of her ashes will follow in St. James' Memorial Garden.