Darrell Wayne Parsons, 99, of Pratt, passed away Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, at South Wind Home in Pratt. He was born on May 19, 1925, in Minneapolis, Kan., to Rollo Ray and Ada Estelle (Calkins) Parsons. Wayne married Flo (West) Parsons on March 26, 1949, in Kansas City, Kan. They were happily married for nearly 76 years.

Wayne graduated from Cheney High School and was drafted into the United States Army in August of 1943, serving in the Pacific Theater with the Americal Division during World War II. At the end of the war, he was discharged in January of 1946 at the rank of 1st Sgt.

Upon returning home, he decided to attend the Kansas City School of Watchmaking, graduating in 1949. After working in a few jewelry stores, he decided to move his family to Pratt and open his own store, Parsons Jewelry, in November of 1959, and was active in the store until its closing in November of 2023. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, and formerly a member of Pratt Masonic Lodge, Pratt Midian Shrine, Kiwanis International, Pratt Elks Lodge 1451, Kansas Jewelers Association and Pratt Greenbacks Booster Club. He was an avid tennis player, golfer and bowler. He enjoyed attending all of the local sporting events, spending time with his grandchildren and driving his 1966 Mustang convertible.

He is survived by his wife, Flo Parsons of Pratt; children, Steven Wayne (Susan) Parsons of Pratt, Mark Alan (Debbie) Parsons of Beeville, Texas, and Nancy Ann Coss of Tulsa, Okla.; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Wayne is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Ray Elton Parsons, Myraline Slusser, Dorothea Collumber, Veral Forrest Parsons, Galen E. Parsons, Richard A. Parsons, Ruth Joanne Compton and Almira Zimmerman.

A celebration of life with military honors will be held at 4 p.m., Saturday, March 29, at Pratt Elks Lodge. The family will visit with friends until 6 p.m. Inurnment will be at a later date at Pioneer Cemetery, Cheney.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, Shriner Children's Hospital, Iuka Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church Puppet Ministry or donor choice in care of Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Road, Pratt, KS 67124. Online condolences may be made at www.larrisonmortuary.com.