INNOVATION
INNOVATION
Keeping a Legacy Alive Parsons began racing motorcycles in his youth and never shied away from adventure . Whether it was racing on the weekends , riding through the woods , or making a cross-country trip to Colorado with his sons to ride motorcycles 13,000 feet up mountains a month before his death , he was never afraid to try something new .
“ We had the time of our lives on that trip ,” says David Parsons , who at age 22 also races motorcycles and now runs his dad ’ s business building custom closets . “ He had actually been to Colorado to ride dirt bikes many years ago , before I was born . He would always tell me stories about it , and I wanted to go . We finally did , and it was great . I didn ’ t realize how thankful I was for that trip until after he passed away . I ’ m just glad we got to take it . That was a trip he wanted to take us on his whole life , and I ’ m thankful for it .”
Parsons turned 57 on Sept . 22 , 2021 , just a few days before his death . Ally says they all had a big family dinner to celebrate , and her dad was still beaming about the trip he shared with David and Cole . “ He was boasting about this trip ,” Ally says . “ He just had the greatest time , scaling and climbing mountains with his boys . I think it was the trip of his life , for sure .”
O ’ Hara says she and Parsons made a pact years ago to always be there for each other as a family . “ When we divorced , we made a covenant with each other — that our kids came first and that we would respect each other ,” she says . “ We were very , very true to that covenant , especially in the last two to three years . We talked often about the kids , and sometimes we just talked . We had a trust .”
Ally recalls a conversation Parsons had with the family at that birthday dinner . There was a specific place at the top of American Flag Mountain where he wanted his ashes to be scattered when he died . Talking about it now , it seems surreal to the family that they would have that conversation and then be planning to follow through on Parsons ’ wishes such a short time later , but that ’ s exactly what they did . In fall 2022 , around the time of Parsons birthday , the family planned to go back with several of his friends and travel up almost 13,000 feet – where it feels like you can reach out and touch the sky – and lay Jim Parsons to rest .
Jim Parsons
The story – and legacy – of Jim Parsons will live on .
“ Our dad was definitely one of a kind who lived life to the fullest ,” Ally says . “ Losing him was really hard , but knowing so much light could come from such a sad thing is really important to me . Him looking down on us now , I know he ’ s very proud that his death could potentially bring so much hope to others .”
8 UAB CTI Report