Marica Stowell Parrish
Marica Stowell Parrish, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, daughter, teacher, and friend, passed away peacefully at age 80 on August 14, 2025. She was born in Logan, Utah, to Lima Bon Jensen and Otis “Mike” O’dell Stowell and raised in Lewiston, Utah, with her three fun-filled and loving sisters. She was a peacemaker and bridge builder within her family, and she loved her sisters and parents dearly.
Marcia attended Utah State University, where she studied Early Childhood Education and met her loving husband, Alan K. Parrish. They were married on September 20, 1965, in the Logan, Utah Temple. Together they traveled the world and moved from Logan to Los Angeles, to Boston, having their three children, Jessica Parrish Nelson, Jared Alan Parrish, and Alexandra “Ali” Parrish Cheshire along the way. They then moved to Orem, Utah, where Marcia lived for the rest of her beautiful life.
Marcia taught in Ogden, Utah; Glendale, California; and Orem, Utah, where she touched the lives of hundreds of elementary students and their families for good.
Marcia gladly accepted every opportunity to serve those around her. She was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She loved serving in her many wards, from being a Relief Society President to librarian to caring for those she visited and ministered to personally.
Her greatest influence and legacy is seen in the hearts and lives of her husband, her children, and her grandchildren. Her legacy of love, kindness, peace, gentleness, resourcefulness, optimism, creativity, hard work, sweetness, frugality, goodness, and appreciation for beauty lives on in those she loved, served, and touched throughout her beautiful life.
Marcia was preceded in death by her father, Mike; mother, Lima; and her older sisters Tess LaDawn Stowell and Bonnie Bardee Stein. She is survived by her loving husband, Alan K. Parrish; her three children, Jessica Parrish (Zack) Nelson , Jared Alan (Aubrey) Parrish, and Alexandra “Ali” Parrish (Spencer) Cheshire; her eight beloved and adored grandchildren–Teague and Taytum Nelson; Mia, Paisley, and Porter Parrish; and Avery, Kelsey, and Carson Cheshire; and her younger sister, Nancy Griffin.
She is dearly missed by all who love her. Her family is already looking forward to the incredible day ahead when they will be all together again.
Family and friends are invited to gather and celebrate Marcia’s life at the following services:
Viewing – Friday, August 22, from 6:00-8:00 PM at the church building located at 950 S. 50 E., Orem, Utah.
Morning Gathering & Viewing – Saturday, August 23, from 9:00-10:30 AM at the same location.
Funeral Service & Celebration of Life – Saturday, August 23, at 11 AM at the church building located at 950 S. 50 E., Orem, Utah.
Following the services, interment will take place at East Lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery.
Funeral Directors: Utah Valley Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed to the family at uvfuneral.com.