Obituary of Nell Parrish Rickman

Nell Parrish Rickman, 95, joined the Church Triumphant on January 24th. She was a native of Swain County, NC. She was the daughter of the late Claude and Eula Morgan Parrish and was preceded in death by her husband, Ellis Carr Rickman, a sister Chloe Parrish, and a brother, Wayne Parrish. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bryson City where she was Church Secretary for 17 years. She also worked as the secretary for the Superintendent of Schools for Swain County and retired in 1990 as Director of Swain County's Elderly Nutrition Center. Faith and family were the most important things in her life. She loved to work in her flowers and take walks up Deep Creek. She is survived by two sons, Phil Rickman and wife Pat of Kingsport TN, and Arnold Rickman and wife Martha of Franklin NC, and one daughter, Rita Sivess and husband George of Candler NC; three grandchildren, Michele Rickman Wiggins and husband Phillip of Goldsboro NC, Monica Rickman Walls and husband Jason of Asheville NC, and Tony Rickman and wife Allison of Asheville NC; and seven great grandchildren, Mara, Owen and Lily Arnold, Ethan and Nicholas Walls, and Evy and Carr Rickman; three sisters, Louise Murray of Raleigh NC, Doris Hazlewood of Greensboro NC, and Helen Southards of Maryville TN; and one brother, Claude Parrish of Hickory NC. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Wednesday, at First Baptist Church Bryson City NC, with the Rev. Dr. John Tagliarini and Dr. Doug Murray. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service. While flowers are welcome, the family also encourages donations to First Baptist Church Scholarship Fund at PO Box 247, Bryson City, NC 28713. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the staff of Universal Healthcare of Fletcher and to Four Seasons Hospice for the care given to Nell. The family will be available at 114 Parrish Road, Bryson City. Online condolences at www.crispfuneralhome.org