OBITUARY OF JONATHAN PARKHURST

OBITUARY OF JONATHAN PARKHURST

Jonathan Parkhurst, 57, of Evansville, passed away at 8:15 p.m. on Thursday, August 20, 2020, at home, was born a surprise, and kept surprising throughout his life.  Neither the doctors nor his mother imagined that, after delivering Jamie, they would suddenly discover a twin, Johnny, to deliver.  The brothers were born on 27 April 1963 and kept their mother running.

Jonathan graduated from Bosse High School in 1981 and earned a B. S. from the University of Southern Indiana (major in political science) in 1985.  He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Law in 1988 and practiced for almost 30 years in Posey and Vanderburgh counties.

Principally a prosecuting attorney, Jonathan worked closely with law enforcement–with officers from Indiana State Police, Posey and Vanderburgh county sheriff’s offices, Mt. Vernon and Evansville police departments, and many others throughout Indiana.  He assisted law enforcement in criminal investigations; stayed up late many nights drafting search warrants, examining crime scenes, and answering questions for police investigators; comforted the bereft when a loved one was injured or killed, sometimes brutally.  He tried to help victims and their families understand justice and work through the system.  Indeed, Jonathan helped many children and worked tirelessly to ensure the courts heard their voices.

During his nearly 30 years as an attorney, Jonathan conducted countless grand jury hearings and served as a special prosecutor throughout Southern Indiana.  Jonathan never hesitated to file criminal charges when evidence suggested crime and, similarly, had the courage not to file charges in the absence of evidence.  Across the United States, he taught criminal law and trial techniques to young prosecutors as an instructor for both the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council and the National Advocacy Center.  As a prosecutor, he promised always to seek justice.  He prepared and tried well over 150 jury trials.

Jonathan was a member of the Evansville Bar Association and a founding board member of Joshua Academy.  He served for five years on the board at Belle Manor Homeowners’ Association, four of them as president.

He grew up in St. Mary’s Catholic Church and for many years attended Nazarene Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and for whom he spent three weeks in Africa as a missionary. Recently, Jonathan returned to his Roman Catholic roots, joining the Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

He loved to travel to exotic places, especially with his family.  In addition to Africa, he spent two weeks in Thailand, traveled through Europe, during many summers and holidays cruised

from Key West through the Caribbean.  He particularly enjoyed time in Rome and Cuba.  Jonathan traveled, too, to enjoy his favorite pastime: attending 1980s rock concerts.

Although Johnny never married, he loved and even mentored many, many close friends: Royce Sutton, Lori Sutton, Quinn Sutton, Taryn Sutton, Austin Sutton, William Sutton, Dawnya Taylor, William Saucer, Ryan Stevens, Ron McKim, Nick Ford, Callie Baird, and godchild Hannah Ford.  Among his special colleagues and friends, Jonathan includes Stan Levco, Doug Brown, Carla Moore, Susie Mattingly, many more.  He offers special thanks to Pam Rickenbaugh and Sherry Bevins Darrell.

He further leaves behind his best friends from college Matthew Knowles, Daniel Humphrey, Gregg Gerling, Mike Harp, Jeff Whitaker, Kurt Kiefer, Jim Nunning, Brett Swihart and their families.

In addition to those close friends, survivors include his older brother, Richard Parkhurst; most special sister, Roseanna Parkhurst Gatewood, husband, Tony, and daughter, Maegan Lamb; his twin brother, James Parkhurst, and wife, Janie, along with their sons, Zachary (Kaitlyn) and Tyler, and Zachary’s daughter, Josie; and deceased sister Lisa Parkhurst Baca’s daughter, Ashley Baca-Nkebengedhe, and husband, Steven; half-sister, Brittany Parkhurst Bollinger; stepsister, Mindy Traylor; stepfather, Everett Traylor.

Jonathan follows in death his dear mother, Peggy Lou Williams Parkhurst and sister, Lisa Renea Parkhurst Baca—as well as cousins, grandfathers, and grandmothers–and awaits the touch of their hands and outpouring of love when he greets them in heaven.  He follows, too, his father, Russell Lowell Parkhurst.

In the important ways, Jonathan surprised by beating the odds: although he grew up poor in a poor neighborhood and worked odd jobs from age 13, he managed to complete a college degree and a law degree to be the attorney he aspired to become and to serve with distinction for nearly 30 years.

Jonathan is deeply grateful to sister Roseanna and Uncle Kenny for countless hours helping him navigate cancer treatments. He faced the greatest trial of his life, as he battled Pancreatic Cancer with courage.

Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 29, 2020, at Boone Funeral Home East Chapel – A Family Tradition Funeral Home, 5330 Washington Avenue with Pastor Larry Rascoe and Father Bernie Etienne officiating. The Posey County Police Honors will perform police honors. A Live Stream will be available beginning twenty minutes prior to the service time. Please visit Boone Funeral Home’s Facebook page and click on the link provided. Burial will be Private.

Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until service time, Saturday, August 29, 2020, at BOONE FUNERAL HOME EAST CHAPEL.

Memorial Contributions may be made to CLEO Law Program at cleoinc.org or at 1101 Mercantile Ln Ste 294 Largo, MD 20774.  Joshua Preschool Academy at 867 E. Walnut St Evansville, IN 47713.

Condolences may be made to the family online at boonefuneralhome.net