HAMILTON – On the evening of Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, Chris lost her life-long battle with the many consequences of a congenital heart defect and died at home in the arms of her husband and best friend. Christine was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 21, 1949, and moved to Missoula when she was 6 years old. She attended schools in Missoula and graduated from Hellgate High School in 1968. Prior to graduation, in 1965, she met her best friend and eventual husband; for him it was love at first sight, she, however, took some persuading. She worked at the old Montana Mercantile in the accounting department for several years. Chris married Michael Parnell in October 1969, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Missoula, while he was home on leave from the Marine Corps. Chris and Mike left Missoula in 1974 upon Mike’s graduation from the University of Montana to pursue a life of love, adventure, children and happiness. The couple was lucky enough to be able to return to Montana in 1989 and settled in Hamilton. Chris owned and operated the Never Sweat Gym in Hamilton for more than a decade, and then her health forced her to retire in 2005.
Christine was preceded in death by her father, Roy Egeland of Missoula. She is survived by her mother, Georgana Egeland of Missoula; four brothers, Steve Egeland and Harry Egeland of Missoula and Daniel Egeland and Martel Egeland of Denver, Colo.; three sisters, Susan Egeland and Jenny Egeland of Missoula and Laura Egeland of Washington state; and a niece Amanda and a nephew Cameron. She is also survived by three beautiful, loving children, daughters, Jennifer Parnell of Hamilton, Erin Parnell and son-in-law Leigh Roby of Missoula and son, Jamie Parnell also of Missoula. A wondrous moment and great joy for Chris as a parent was welcoming her granddaughter, Ryah Christine Roby into the world on June 3, 2010, who resides with her parents in Missoula. Her husband Mike Parnell, of Hamilton, also survives the love of his life and will be forever grateful for her love, passion and friendship, and their more than 47 years together.
Chris always said she lived in two of the most beautiful places in the world, Hamilton, Mont., and Killisnoo, Alaska, where she spent many summers.
Forty Second Anniversary, a poem for Chris by her husband
Stitched together, five lives, a family
Pencil marks on a door frame, J, E, and J grow
Original pair, time and age more heavily
Complete trust, love, all we need to know
Whales, fish, our hearts harpooned
Blessing, friends, bears, all make Killisnoo
A plan, an island for us to be marooned
Boat, cabin, deck, room for the whole crew
Another high, time begins anew
Daughter’s labor, such a beautiful pink pearl
Express without words, a tattoo
Warms my soul, my heart, she’s our Ryah girl
Still entwined, new experiences wait
Journey ongoing, more love, laughter, and tears
No hurry, our schedule, so we can’t be late
We’ll amble on, even pausing for a few beers
Blue eyes, crooked finger, best friend
Enormous little things, inspire poem for a wife
Forty two, just a start, not the endYour love, our passion, a charmed life
No finer nor truer heart has ever existed, imperfect as it was; Chris was a friend to many and will be greatly missed. For those who know and knew her, Chris would only ask, be kind to others, and perhaps have a toast to her charmed life.
Robert "Bert" Chessin
HAMILTON – On the evening of Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, Chris lost her life-long battle with the many consequences of a congenital heart defect and died at home in the arms of her husband and best friend. Christine was born in Fairbanks, Alaska, on Nov. 21, 1949, and moved to Missoula when she was 6 years old. She attended schools in Missoula and graduated from Hellgate High School in 1968. Prior to graduation, in 1965, she met her best friend and eventual husband; for him it was love at first sight, she, however, took some persuading. She worked at the old Montana Mercantile in the accounting department for several years. Chris married Michael Parnell in October 1969, at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Missoula, while he was home on leave from the Marine Corps. Chris and Mike left Missoula in 1974 upon Mike’s graduation from the University of Montana to pursue a life of love, adventure, children and happiness. The couple was lucky enough to be able to return to Montana in 1989 and settled in Hamilton. Chris owned and operated the Never Sweat Gym in Hamilton for more than a decade, and then her health forced her to retire in 2005.
Christine was preceded in death by her father, Roy Egeland of Missoula. She is survived by her mother, Georgana Egeland of Missoula; four brothers, Steve Egeland and Harry Egeland of Missoula and Daniel Egeland and Martel Egeland of Denver, Colo.; three sisters, Susan Egeland and Jenny Egeland of Missoula and Laura Egeland of Washington state; and a niece Amanda and a nephew Cameron. She is also survived by three beautiful, loving children, daughters, Jennifer Parnell of Hamilton, Erin Parnell and son-in-law Leigh Roby of Missoula and son, Jamie Parnell also of Missoula. A wondrous moment and great joy for Chris as a parent was welcoming her granddaughter, Ryah Christine Roby into the world on June 3, 2010, who resides with her parents in Missoula. Her husband Mike Parnell, of Hamilton, also survives the love of his life and will be forever grateful for her love, passion and friendship, and their more than 47 years together.
Chris always said she lived in two of the most beautiful places in the world, Hamilton, Mont., and Killisnoo, Alaska, where she spent many summers.
Pencil marks on a door frame, J, E, and J grow Original pair, time and age more heavily Complete trust, love, all we need to know Whales, fish, our hearts harpooned Blessing, friends, bears, all make Killisnoo A plan, an island for us to be marooned Boat, cabin, deck, room for the whole crew Another high, time begins anew Daughter’s labor, such a beautiful pink pearl Express without words, a tattoo Warms my soul, my heart, she’s our Ryah girl Still entwined, new experiences wait Journey ongoing, more love, laughter, and tears No hurry, our schedule, so we can’t be late We’ll amble on, even pausing for a few beers Blue eyes, crooked finger, best friend Enormous little things, inspire poem for a wife Forty two, just a start, not the endYour love, our passion, a charmed lifeNo finer nor truer heart has ever existed, imperfect as it was; Chris was a friend to many and will be greatly missed. For those who know and knew her, Chris would only ask, be kind to others, and perhaps have a toast to her charmed life.