Marilee Parr Dorn
Being privileged to grow up in a shared neighborhood, school, church with the five Chapel children, we four Parr kids learned quickly what an important role the Chapels would have in each of our lives. Chris mentored our mother when she became a late-in-life believer in Christ, and shared with her the principles of Christian child-rearing. Each of us as children were bonded in friendship at some time with the three older Chapel kids, Jack, Joe, and Judy. But Earl was special. Our father was absent from our home, but Earl was often with us in our living room, as we all gathered around the piano for his rehearsal with our mother, perfecting that week’s selection for church or nursing home or funeral, where he would be singing. And we were often in his home, playing, singing, putting on puppet shows or theatre plays we’d written, being silly, as he applauded, encouraged us with hugs and words, included us in his family, We watched, observed, experienced a model of a true man of Christ. He headed, led, supported, raised, loved his family - and ours. As the youngest, often feeling the effects still in adulthood of abandonment by generations of men in my family, Earl was always there for me, a wise advisor, counselor, kind father image, friend, musician of excellence, during these many years.
He is now singing in a heavenly chorus all my favorite hymns!
Kirk and Marilee Parr Dorn
