John Russell Parsons Sr.

John Russell Parsons Sr., age 35, of Iatan, Missouri, passed away August 27th 2026 in Iatan, Missouri.

A Private Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2026 at 6:00pm at the Crossroads Chapel, 17630 SW Old Hwy Road, Rushville, MO 64484.

JR was born on November 5th 1990 to June Spinner & John D. Parsons. Known to everyone as “JR” he was a man who was so much more than what first met the eye. Strong-willed, resilient, & full of personality, JR had a way of making people laugh & leaving an impression wherever he went. Those that knew him knew that beneath the struggles and hardships he faced was a person with an enormous capacity for love, humor & light. JR had a deep love for music, particularly heavy metal & hard rock. He loved going to concerts & if there was a mosh pit, you could almost guarantee JR was right in the middle of it. Music wasn’t just something he listened to but something he lived and felt. Life handed JR more challenges & chaos than anyone should have to carry. Still he had a remarkable ability to brush himself off, get back up & keep going.

He was strong in ways that weren’t obvious and there were many sides to JR that weren’t visible to everyone who crossed his path. He is survived by his mother, June, his father, John, his three children with ex-wife Tyra, John Russell Junior, Rayne Katherine, & Ashtyn Emilee. His sister Linsay (Craig) Atchison, niece Maddie & his longtime partner Shelby Merkel along with her two daughters Layla & Sophia, who were an important part of JR’s life. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members & friends who will carry his memory with them. JR leaves behind memories of laughter, music, unforgettable moments, & the mark he made on the lives of people who knew him. His life cannot be summed up by its hardest moments or by the struggles he carried. There was love in him. There was light in him.

There was a person behind everything the world saw. May JR be remembered for the laughter he gave, the music he loved, the strength he carried & the people whose lives were touched by his. May he finally find the peace he spent so much of his life searching for.