Former Idaho state Sen. Atwell Parry, R-Melba, passed away today after suffering injuries a one-vehicle accident on Jan. 14 that left him in critical condition. Parry, former co-chairman of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, was released from St. Alphonsus Hospital on Jan. 27 to go home with hospice care. Parry, a retired grocery store owner, served two decades in the Idaho Senate. The Idaho Press-Tribune reported that Parry died today at his son's home in Caldwell, as a result of injuries suffered in the Jan. 14 car accident; click below to read his full obituary.

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, who served with Parry in the Idaho Senate, released this statement: “I am saddened to hear of former Senator Atwell Parry’s passing.  Having served with him many years in the State Senate, I saw firsthand how skillfully he guided the budget committee through difficult financial times as a co-chair.  He was a down-to-earth guy who enjoyed serving people.  ‘At’ will be greatly missed.  Vicki and I send our condolences to his wife, Elaine, and their family in the loss of a wonderful husband and father.”

Atwell Parry

Atwell "At" J. Parry, age 84, died on January 29, 2010, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Atwell, a Melba resident, was born June 14, 1925, in Ogden, Utah, to John Atwell and Nina Virginia McEntire Parry, the first of two sons. He joined the Navy in 1943 where he served in the Pacific Theater on the destroyer escort USS Weaver. He received several ribbons and medals for his service in the Navy. He married Elaine Hughes on February 6, 1946, in Boise, Idaho, and were later sealed in the Salt Lake LDS Temple. After the war, they called Canyon County their home, living in Nampa until 1964 when they moved to Melba.
Atwell purchased a grocery store in Melba in 1964 and was in the grocery and meat -cutting business for eighteen years. He received the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to the Boy Scouts of America, he held an Honorary State FFA degree, and awards for being a Friend to Agriculture, Guardian of Small Business, and was voted Outstanding Legislator by his peers in 1993, and Canyon County Republican Hall of Fame in 1998.
He was elected to the Idaho State Senate in 1980 and served as Chairman of Finance and Co-Chair of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee for fourteen years in addition to other committees.
Atwell was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was active in leadership service in the church, serving for many years as scoutmaster, bishop, counselor in a stake presidency, stake patriarch, and temple sealer. He also was a seminary teacher for 16 years. He was much loved by his many Scouts, as well as by countless others whose lives he touched. He had an unfaltering testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
Atwell is survived by his brother Delbert (Fern) of Nampa, his wife Elaine of Melba, his daughter Bonnie (John) McIntyre of Sandy, Utah, and his six sons Michael (Debi) of Mapleton, Utah, Jay (Vicki) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Donald (Camille) of Woodland Hills, Utah, David (Becky) of Henderson, Nevada, Delbert (Lovalyn) of Caldwell and Kent (DeAnn) of Alpine, Utah, 45 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandchild, Jennifer McIntyre.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at the Nampa South LDS Stake Center, 7809 Deer Flat Road in Nampa. A viewing will be held at the church from 6 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, February 1, and at the church on Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. prior to the funeral services.
Interment will follow at the Melba Cemetery. Arrangements are by the Zeyer Funeral Chapel, Nampa. 467-7300.

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