Christopher ”Chris” Matthew Parent -June 15, 1965 – Dec. 11, 2019
Christopher ”Chris” Matthew Parent passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 11, 2019 at the age of 54.
Chris was born on June 15, 1965 in Farmington, Michigan, to parents Gerald and Sheila (McSporran) Parent.
Chris married the love of his life, his soulmate, his best friend, Denise (Dee) on Sept. 18, 1993 in the backyard of his parents’ home in Farmington Hills, Michigan, surrounded by immediate family and close friends.
It was the best day ever.
Both Chris and Dee grew up in Southfield, Michigan, and were friends with many of the same people. But it wasn’t until later in life when their paths crossed again. The reconnection was the beginning of their 27 years together. Seven months after they married, Chris readily agreed to move to Oregon, a lifelong dream of Dee’s. He fell in love with the Creswell area immediately.
Chris was the baby of his family, growing up with three older brothers. His brothers had a lot of fun teasing him mercilessly throughout the years and using him as the ”guinea pig” for stunts they concocted. They knew he would do anything for them. Aside from that, the love and respect they all had for each other was like no other.
Chris participated in all sports growing up, including hockey, baseball and football. Wrestling was his passion. He lived and breathed wrestling and he was excellent at it. His parents and brothers were his biggest cheering section at his matches. In high school, Chris received many college scholarship offers for wrestling. He finally signed with the University of Las Vegas.
Sadly, after his freshman year, the college canceled its wrestling program and he returned to Michigan. He attended Eastern Michigan University, and later decided to join the Marines in the summer of 1986.
He was honorably discharged in 1990. While he was in the Marines, he was asked to join the All-Marine Wrestling Team, which he proudly did. That team competes at the Olympics Trials, and Chris placed fourth for his weight class during that event.
Shortly after moving to Oregon, Chris began his career in commercial concrete construction. He was employed with John Hyland Construction for a little more than 17 years and with Dynasty Construction for 2.5 years before joining the local Carpenters Union. The last three years he was employed with GBC.
Chris loved to shoot pool, golf, hunt, fish, bowl and ride motorcycles. He loved college football, especially the Michigan Wolverines, the Oregon Ducks and any team playing Notre Dame.
Chris also loved to travel. His most memorable trips with Dee included their Alaskan cruise, trip to Ireland and, most special, their 25th anniversary trip to Kauai, Hawaii, in 2018, with four very special friends.
Finally, he had a great love of children and animals – dogs especially. And they loved him. He would get down on the ground and play with any dog he met. He especially loved the furbabies he and Dee had – Brendell and Bubba, who are gone; and Bella, Kuro and Hunter, who miss him terribly.
Chris loved people. He could strike up a conversation with anyone. He cherished the friendships he had with so many people throughout his life. He loved to hang out with his Round-Up Saloon family, ”Barber Jim,” and his favorite neighbors and all their furbabies, and his work family at GBC.
Chris loved to share music with others. Whether it was on a jukebox or someone’s CD collection, he would pick songs from oldies, Detroit’s finest Motown, Classic Rock ‘n’ Roll and Country. He would mix all of the above in his music jam sessions and he was so good at making the music all flow together. He enjoyed watching people sing, dance or tap their feet to the music he played.
There were certain people in his life who held a very special place in his heart, always: his mom, dad and brothers; Art (aka Bubba); Thoma; ”sister” Peg and husband Tom – the only person who could get away with calling him ”Chrissy”; the ”Six-Pack Forever” group, which included Chris, Dee, Tim, Mande, Brian and Lara; Curt, Darren, PJ and Dylan – Dylan, you were like a son to him; Gary, Mike and Kelly W.; Zachadoo and Holly – and Connor, every time you ran to him and jumped into his arms you made his day. He was so proud of the man you grew up to be.
Chris is survived by his wife of 27 years, Dee; his mom, ”Sheilababe,” brothers John (Christine), Dan and Rob; his favorite mother-in-law, Marie; Dee’s brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale, Gary (Marty), Doug and Marianne; nieces and nephews: Stacey (Jason), Devlyn (Andrew), Marty and Sean (Alyssa); and great-nieces and great-nephews Aurora, Nathan, Jacob, Parker, Skyler, Everly and Lucy.
He was preceded in death by his dad, Gerald; father-in-law Ernie; his Grand-dad and Mimi; and Nana.
Chris, the love of my life, my soulmate, my best friend, you are with me every minute, every hour, every day. You will forever be by my side.
My sweetness, go rest high on that mountain even though your work on Earth wasn’t done.
One day, someday, I don’t when, I’ll meet you there. I know you’ll be waiting for me.
A Celebration of Life and potluck will be held at 1 p.m. on Jan. 18, 2020, at the Round-Up Saloon. A military service will be held in Michigan at a later date.
