Golden Boys of Pebble Creek--We Won't Forget

Dr. John R Parris
7-4-1923 - 2-23-2004

As a group, the Golden Boys won't set the golfing world on fire. You've seen some of our swings. That's probably why we looked up so much to John Parris. The guy could play. Flat out play golf. Take that same swing. Crank it out there. No fuss. Just do it.

He was our pride and joy. He reigned as our champion more than a half-dozen times since he joined the organization in 1989. Aw, heck, he was our champion no matter what name went on the list.

Listen, it wasn't news when John Parris shot his age. It was news if he didn't. When he turned eighty, he cranked out the scores in the 70's. We're betting when he turned 70, the scores in the 60's came along regularly, too.

You know something else. It wasn't just the golf that drew us to respect John Parris so much. He was a good guy, a really good guy. We wonder if he ever frowned. Friendly, caring, easy-going, helpful. Cross words. They weren't in his vocabulary.

He acknowledged with a smile almost every year that he had never won the Golden Boys Match Play tournament. (We can credit the illustrious handicap system more than we can credit the skills of those who eliminated him). Yet he always entered it, giving away all those stokes. And he graciously congratulated the winner when his eventual upset happened.

Man, oh man, will he ever be missed? You just have to say we were lucky to have had him in our foursome, in our golfing circle and on our earth.

Dr. John Randolph Parris, 80, died Feb. 23, 2004, at Allen Bennett Memorial Hospital. He was the widower of Gwendolyn McGinnis Parris.
A native of Spartanburg County, son of the late Clarence and Daisy Gilliam Parris, he was retired after operating his own dental practice in Greer for 36 years, and was a U.S. Air Force veteran of World War II.
Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, John Jr. and Vickie Parris, of Woodruff; three daughters and sons-in-law, Babs and Jim Prust, of Charlotte, Debbie and Jim Young, of Columbus, Ohio, and Rita and Greg Bell, of Greer; two brothers, Raymond Parris, of Spartanburg, and Preston Parris, of Atlanta; two sisters, Margie Kirby and Millie Edmonds, both of Spartanburg; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; and a devoted girlfriend, Melinda Cantrell, of Spartanburg.
Funeral services 11 a.m. Thursday at Wood Mortuary, Burial at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg.
Memorials may be made to American Heart Association, Upstate Chapter, 310-B Bennett Center Drive, Greer, SC 29651; or to Cancer Society of Greenville County, 113 Mills Ave., Greenville, SC 29605.

ART SMITH, A GOOD FRIEND
Arthur Bennett "Bud" Smith, 87, formerly of 220 Ingleside Way, Greenville, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Richard M. Campbell Veteran's Home, Anderson.
Born in Bogota, N.J., he was the son of the late Arthur B. Smith and Laura Barber Smith. He served his country as a Staff Sergeant in the Military Police in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.
A longtime member of Pebble Creek Country Club, he enjoyed the company of fellow golfers in the Foothills Seniors Golf Association, and the Golden Boys. He was particularly proud of accomplishments on the golf course: two holes-in-one and shooting a par 72 at the age of 77.
Funeral services 3:30 p.m. Saturday, at The Mackey Mortuary, In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make memorials to Alzheimer's Association, 301 University Ridge, Suite 5000, Greenville, SC 29601. -- The Mackey Mortuary, Century Drive.

KEN HESTER SERVICES
Kenneth Maynard Hester, 70, of 103 Suffolk Court, died Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004, at his residence. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 3 p.m. at The Howze Mortuary Chapel, 6714 State Park Rd., Travelers Rest. Phone there is 834-8051. Burial will be at Grandview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Howze Mortuary. Ken joined the Golden Boys in October, 1991. Memorials may be made to Cancer Society of Greenville County, 11 Mills Ave., Greenville, SC 29605.

Fred Chaikin, 75, died Thursday, Nov. 11, 2004, at 5 a.m. He joined the Golden Boys in 1993. Survivors: Two sons, Leslie Chaikin of Lexington Park, Md., and Gary Chaikin M.D. of West Salem, Wis.; and a sister, Sarah Stone of Boston, Mass.
Graveside services will be held in Montefiore Cemetery, New York, N.Y., Sunday, Nov. 14, 2004, at 11 a.m. -- Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Northwest, is in charge of arrangements.

TOM MCDERMOTT 1927-2003
Longtime Golden Boy Tom McDermott, 75, died on 10/19/03 after an apparent heart attack on Saturday. Services will be at Prince of Peace Church Thursday, Oct 23rd, at 11:00 am. Reception at parish hall will follow.
The easily-liked Tom was a life member of Pebble Creek Club and a charter member of the Golden Boys. He was a member of the Golden Boys Executive Board and served as Secretary in 1998,1999 and 2000. Tom retired from Maxfli Golf Company where he was vice president of marketing. Through his friends at Maxfli Tom provided many prizes for the annual Golden Boys Member Guest tournaments. Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Mercia Holst McDermott; two daughters, Patricia Ann McDermott, and her husband, Bob Narus, of New Jersey, and Mary Elizabeth McDermott, of New Jersey; and a sister, Mary Jackson, of Port St. Lucie, Fla.