David Ross Parry

Ross was born in Payson, Utah, to Roswell “Tug” Parry and Fern Iola Elmer on July 26, 1934. His father died when he was seven years old and he stayed with his maternal grandparents in the house where he was born. Fern later married Max Ostler, who was a good step-father to Ross and his younger brother, Dennis. Two more siblings, Don and Maxine, were added to this growing family.

Ross started his Forest Service career while still in high school; he lied about his age so he could be hired, and the summer between his junior and senior year was spent in a lookout tower in Idaho. After graduating from Utah State University in 1960, he taught math at Logan Junior High for a year and spent the summer learning to be a smokejumper in Missoula, Montana. He decided teaching was much harder than jumping out of planes, so he settled in Montana and had many exciting times fighting fires. Check out Higgins Ridge Fire on YouTube for a close-up look of one of his experiences. He retired from the Forest Service and spent the rest of his free time on various golf courses.

He married Marilyn Orr on June 5, 1959, and their greatest blessings came from their wonderful children: Suzanne and Doug Bronson and their six children and twelve grandchildren; Brenda and Jim Weight and their two children; Jim and Dorothy Parry and their five children and four grandchildren; David and Shaylene (deceased) and their three daughters; Mark and Sarah and their daughter; and Rick and Cami Parry and their three sons.

Graveside services will be held at Memorial Gardens of the Wasatch, 1718 Combe Road, on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.