Ron Parr

age 55 of Lenoir City,  cared about his family, friends, county, and work.  His death on January 22, 2008 is a loss that is being felt throughout the area. Ron began roaming the back roads of Loudon County when he was nine after his family moved to Lenoir City from Terre Haute, Indiana where he was born.  He graduated from Lenoir City High School in 1970 and from Tennessee Wesleyan College in 1974 with a B.S. in Math and teaching certification for secondary education. Ron served Group Leader in Information Technology Services Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  He had over 30 years experience in the information technology field. After graduation from Tennessee Wesleyan University, Ron began work at the Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant in July 1974 as a computer programmer analyst. He worked initially on software applications associated with DOEs uranium enrichment program.  In 1982, Ron transferred to the Y-12 Plant where he worked on a number of software applications associated with the Y-12 Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) project.  He also served as the manager of Y-12s Database Administration Section for several years.  Ron left Y-12 in 1990 to return to the K-25 site as the section manager of a staff of software applications developers supporting multi-site cost accounting and property management applications. In late 1998, Ron transferred to ORNL to assume responsibility for the Labs newly formed software applications development organization. He led a group which has been very successful in client/server and World Wide Web technologies. In 2006, he became Group Leader of the new Software Application Services group where he managed over 80 staff members.  Under Ron's leadership this organization has grown and prospered.  Over the years, Ron's exceptional people skills allowed him to attract, retain and grow an exceptionally strong and loyal staff.  The people were always Ron's number one concern and  priority.  After learning of the accident, one of his former employees wrote  that Ron was simply the most honest, kindest, caring supervisor and friend that anyone could know. He influenced and helped the careers of many, many people.With his dad, Jack Parr, he also owned and operated Parr Tool Company in Lenoir City for the past 17 years.  Ron graduated from the Leadership Loudon County Class in 2003.  This experience led to his interest in land use planning in the county resulting in an appointment to the Loudon County Planning Commission.  He continually worked to promote healthy, planned growth within Loudon County and he had the ability to mediate by listening to opposing views and assisting in finding mutually beneficial solutions. When not working, Ron loved riding his Harley with special friends to different parts of the U.S., including a cross-county ride to the California coast this past summer. He was most proud, though, of his children.  Robert, 23, is a second-year law student at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.  Elizabeth, 17, is a senior at Oak Ridge High School.  His wife, Pat, is the Natural Resources Manager for Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Other survivors include his parents, Jack and Wilma Parr, of Lenoir City;  sister and family: Pam and Don Breazeale and their children, Adam, Jason, and Amanda  of Lenoir City mother and father-in-law, Bob and Betty Dreyer of Oak Ridge; sisters- in-law and families, Nancy and Jeff Kile and their children, Keith and Jessica  of Oak Ridge; Dottie Dreyer and Jane Houston of Gainesville, FL. Grandparents (all of Terre Haute, Indiana and deceased), Elmer and Phila Parr, Merlin and Ellen Jones, and Fern and Raymond Jones. Friends may call at their convenience Friday at Click Funeral Home in Lenoir City. The family will receive friends from 9 to 10:45 a.m. Saturday, January 26, at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church with Rev. Stella Roberts, Rev. Troy Forrester, Rev. Mayhen Archer and Mr. Carl Thomas officiating. Family and friends will gather at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Lakeview Cemetery in the Lenoir City Park for graveside services and interment. Serving as pallbearers will be: Robert Parr, Jason and Don Breazeale, Keith and Jeff Kile, Neal Bell. Honorary pallbearers will be: Terry Jones, Adam Breazeale, John Drake, Carl Thomas, Mike Goggin, Phil Mason and Gene Chrusiel. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations to one of the following be considered: Tennessee Wesleyan College (Information Technology Program), 204 East College St, Athens, TN 37303; United Way of Loudon County, 1301 Hannah Ave, Knoxville, TN 37921, attn. Mary Sue Jordan; Oak Ridge First United Methodist Church Youth Program, (designate Ron Parr memorial) 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. Click Funeral Home, 109 Walnut Street, Lenoir City is serving the Parr family.