William "Bill" Bruce Parrill

William Bruce Parrill passed away on April 2017 at his home in Hammond, Louisiana, at the age of 84. Born in 1932, in Westernport, Maryland, to parents Wade Hampton and Mae Parrill, he spent his childhood and youth in Keyser, West Virginia. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Anna Sue Parrill, his son, Stephen Robert Parrill, of whom he was very proud, Steve's jewel of a wife, Gretchen Kopfler Parrill, three precious granddaughters--Haley Marie Thonn, Emily Anne Galjour, and Marie Adele Parrill-- and their spouses--Michael Galjour and Trew Thonn. He lived long enough to welcome three great grandsons--Trew Dorice Thonn, Jr., Robert Lawrence Thonn, and Christopher Joseph (CJ) Galjour. Preceding him in death were his twin brother, Robert Joseph, and his parents. He earned degrees from West Virginia University (BS, MA) and the University of Tennessee (Ph.D.). After teaching for a year at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee, he found a home at Southeastern Louisiana (College) University, where he taught English and communications from 1965 to 2004. He was awarded The Reimers Endowed Professorship for the years 1999-2002. He was co-founder and co-editor of the journal Louisiana Literature from its inception in 1984 until 2002. Related to the courses that he taught in film studies and literature, he published numerous book reviews and five books, including The Films of Sam Peckinpah, European Silent Films on Video, Ridley Scott: a Critical Filmography, The Films of Johnny Depp, and The Long Haul: Conversations with Southern Writers. He also taught a class each semester at Saint Joseph Seminary College in Saint Benedict, Louisiana, for twenty years. The possessor of an enormous library of books and films, Bill was an avid reader of books on many topics--Shakespeare, films, the history of Christianity, ancient Greek literature, the American Civil War, World Wars I and II. During the years before his knees betrayed him, he liked to play tennis and afterwards he enjoyed watching tennis on TV and developed a fondness for NASCAR. Although Bill did not suffer fools gladly, he consistently demonstrated great understanding, compassion, and generosity toward his family and friends. He will be remembered by his friends for his propensity to deliver an apt Shakespearean quotation on every occasion, even on his deathbed. Recently, asked how he felt, he whispered, "On fortune's cap, we are not the very button." In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to Saint Joseph Seminary College, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457, or to North Oaks Hospice. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation Tuesday evening at Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home in Hammond from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Then on Wednesday morning at St. Albert the Great Chapel, there will be a Mass of Christian Burial starting at 10:00 am. Fr. Michael Miceli will officiate and interment will follow in St. Joseph Abby Cemetery.

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William "Bill" Bruce Parrill

October 18, 1932 - April 2, 2017