Everett Lee Couch Sr., 80, of Parsons went to be with the Lord at 9:45 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 2010, at Freeman West Hospital in Joplin.

He was born Aug. 7, 1929, at Chouteau, Okla., a son of George Nolan and Meda (Keener) Couch. He started school at Big Cabin, Okla., but later moved with his family to Welch, Okla., where he graduated from high school in 1947.

While in high school, he worked at Van Osborne Drug Store at Welch. Following high school, he attended telegraphic school at Chillicothe, Mo. He was later employed at the M-K-T Railroad and traveled in Texas with the railroad gang. He moved to Parsons in 1951 and continued employment with the railroad as a signal maintainer. He later worked at Ankortite. Most recently, he worked as a carpenter, electrician and plumber and for 32 years operated Couch Electric and Plumbing with his son.

On Sept. 6, 1950, he married JoAnn Phillebaum at Vinita, Okla. She survives of the home.

He was a member of First Foursquare Church at Parsons. He enjoyed living in the country, being outdoors, raising cattle and nature. He also enjoyed spending time with his family and his Yorkshire terrier, Corkie. Among his other hobbies were building and fixing things, working with tools, reminiscing about “the good old days” and helping others by sharing his knowledge and tools.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a son, Everett L. “Skip” Couch, and his companion, Rhonda Steele, of rural Parsons; a daughter, Debora Wolverton, and her husband, Ronnie, of Parsons; two grandchildren, Greg Couch, and his wife, Talya, of Parsons and Tony Caylor, and his wife, Diane, of Pittsburg; three great-grandchildren, Hannah Davis and Anthony and Heaven Caylor, all of Pittsburg; three brothers, Elmer Couch, and his wife, Neeta, of Ardmore, Okla., George Couch, and his wife, Candy, of Miami, Okla., and Jim Couch, and his wife, Wanda, of Miami, Okla.; a sister, Elsie Davis of Miami, Okla.; seven nieces, Bobbi Young, and her husband, Kevin, of Ardmore, Okla., Kirsten Couch of Miami, Okla., Gretchen Couch of California, Rachel Molkia, and her husband, Oleg, of Durango, Colo., Connie Horn, and her husband, Pat, of Broken Arrow, Okla., Nola Shaw of Parsons and Tonya Evans, and her husband, Jimmy, of Parsons; and three nephews, Chris Couch, and his wife, Shelia, of Joplin, Mike Couch of Miami, Okla., and Rocky Kellogg of Parsons.

He was preceded in death by a niece, Carla Couch; a nephew, Tommy Kellogg; three brothers-in-law, Paul Davis, Charles Phillebaum and Harold Kellogg; and a sister-in-law, Maxine Kellogg.

The service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home with the Revs. Steve Shultz and Irvin Espeseth officiating. Burial will be in Oakhill Cemetery at Chetopa. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to First Foursquare Church and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.