Katherine Sue Parish

Katherine Sue Parish, Davis, nee Smith a.k.a. "Aunt Kay" or "Kathe", passed away peacefully of natural causes in her home of Las Cruces, New Mexico on December 7, 2020. She was 85 years old. Katherine was born March 14, 1935 in the village of Hatch, New Mexico to Thomas Willard Sr. and Thelma Smith, and was the second of five siblings. Growing up in a small-town farming community, her life was full of faith and family. She married Buster B. Davis in 1951, and they had two children, Julie and Ron. During those years, Katherine worked for City Hall, JC Penney's, and Dales Furniture while still being a full-time homemaker and mother. She found the second love of her life after becoming widowed in 1985, and married Richard N. Parish in 1989. They purchased land and built a new home in Las Cruces where they lived for 30 years enjoying the beautiful views of the Organ Mountains. Her faith in God and Country was evident and contagious! Her home was always welcoming to anyone, and typically greeted by the smell of a freshly cooked meal. She was an accomplished painter and author of her book "At the Crossroads", a family genealogy and biography of her families' life and legacy pioneering the American southwest. As a long-standing member of First Baptist Church, she was active in the choir and Sunday School ministries. In her own words, "I am a child of God, a daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. I am truly blessed!" Katherine is survived by her Children: Julie R. (Davis) Basile (Bob), and Ron W. Davis (Marcy) of Las Cruces, NM, and Richard Leroy Parish of Norman, OK, and Suzanne (Parish) Fleming of Portland OR. Grandchildren: Crystal Davis of Tampa, FL, Brooke (Davis) Lockridge (Dustin) of Las Cruces NM, Spencer Parish (Magen) Conroe, TX, Courtney McVay (Jeremy), and Cristin Weldon, of Las Cruces, NM, and Christopher (Sara), Brian, Varnum (Leslie) and Richard (Amy) Fleming of Portland, OR. Great-Grandchildren: Hank and Nolan Lockridge, Jacob and Jessie McVay, Matthew and William Meehan, and Paxton and Parker Parish. Sister: LaVonne Russell of Ft Leonard Wood, MO, and a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband(s) Buster Davis (1985), and Richard Parish (2017) of Las Cruces, NM and siblings, Vonn Lucille Smith, sister, Thomas Willard Smith, Jr, brother, and Vera Louise Arnold, sister. A funeral is scheduled for Thursday, December 17, 2020 at 3:00 pm at the First Baptist Church of Las Cruces, 4201 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM. Dr. David Burrows will officiate the ceremony. Live streaming will be available for family and friends not able to attend at the following links: First Baptist Church of Las Cruces - http://fbclascruces.com/live or www.getzcares.com. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to First Baptist Church, 4201 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd, Las Cruces, NM. The family would like to thank the outstanding staff of Getz Funeral Home and the First Baptist Church family. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88001. Please visit www.getzcares.com to sign the local online guest book and to view the livestream. Service Information
Thursday, December 17, 2020 3:00pm,
First Baptist Church

4201 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd.
Las Cruces, New Mexico






Interment Location
Monday, December 21, 2020 2:00pm,
Hillcrest Memorial Gardens

5140 W. Picacho Ave.
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88007