A lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent, Jack Parry passed away peacefully on August 1, 2026 at the Chatham-Kent Hospice at the age of 81. Born and raised in Dover Township, just north of Chatham, Jack remained deeply rooted in the community and the land he loved throughout his life.
Jack’s greatest joy was his family. He shared nearly 56 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Jane, whom he met when she was 13 and he was 15. They married in 1970 and built a life filled with love, hard work, laughter, and unwavering devotion to one another.
Together they raised four children: Dr. Andrea Pepper (Ryan), Erica Parry (Chris), Trevor Parry (Natalie), and Kyle Parry (Liz). Jack was a proud and devoted Grandpa to Zara, Quincy, Daphne, Nick, Alex, Jaxon, Lincoln, Cameron, Parker, Kate, and Ryan. He was also blessed with a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins, all of whom held a special place in his heart. Family meant everything to Jack.
He was the son of the late Robert and Verna Parry, and is survived by his brothers Ralph (Lyn) Parry and George (Jean-Louis) Parry. He was predeceased by his sister Helen (John) and his son-in-law Julian.
A proud farmer through and through, Jack owned and worked farms in Seaforth, Ontario, Waycross, Georgia and Dover Township. Farming was not just his career, but his passion. Even in retirement, he still checked the grain prices every day, always keeping one eye on the fields and the future.
Jack graduated from Texas A&I University with a degree in Agricultural Science. His love for Texas was legendary and far greater than most Canadians could understand. He and Jane treasured the many trips they made there and the lifelong friendship they shared with Bill and Mildred Sanborn of McAllen, Texas.
Jack was remarkably intelligent and wonderfully resourceful. There seemed to be nothing he couldn’t fix, rebuild, or figure out. He rebuilt engines, helped his children with countless science projects, and famously decided one winter that refurbishing a motorcycle in the family kitchen was a perfectly reasonable idea. It made for some very tight quarters and even better family stories.
He also valued friendship deeply. Cottage weekends, crop tours, boat rides, groundhog adventures and time spent with longtime friends brought him great happiness. Those friendships remained an important part of his life for decades.
Some of the most treasured memories of Jack were made around the breakfast table. He loved cooking big Sunday breakfasts and never hesitated to feed whichever friends of his children had stayed the night, especially after a bush party.
In later years, those breakfasts became a beloved tradition shared with his grandchildren, creating some of their most cherished memories together. Jack treasured every moment he spent with his grandkids. From the the quiet snuggles, movie nights with popcorn, motorhome adventures, to the countless everyday moments.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to the compassionate staff of the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance, especially the Emergency Department and the Rehabilitation and Stroke Unit; to the dedicated teams in the ICU and Neuro Unit at Windsor Regional Hospital – Ouellette Campus; and most especially to the extraordinary staff of the Chatham-Kent Hospice. The kindness, dignity, and comfort they provided Jack and our family in his final days will never be forgotten.
In keeping with Jack’s wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements entrusted to the Alexander & Houle Funeral Home, 245 Wellington St. West, Chatham, 519-352-2710.
If desired, donations in Jack’s memory may be made to the Chatham-Kent Hospice Foundation, or to the Robert and Verna Parry fund through the Chatham-Kent Community Foundation. On-line condolences may be shared at www.alexanderandhoulefuneralhome.ca.
