Lovell R. Parsons Jr. Obituary
Lovell R. Parsons Jr. passed away peacefully in his home on May 11, 2025.
Born in 1943 and raised in West Gloucester, Lovell was the fifth of eleven children of Lois and Lovell Sr. A lifelong New Englander, he cherished the roots of his Gloucester upbringing and remained close to many of his siblings throughout his life. He was predeceased by his sister Lynn and his brothers Laurence and Lewis.
Lovell served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968. Stationed at Otis Air Force Base, he worked as a radar technician and held multiple jobs off-base, returning to Gloucester on weekends to be near home and family.
He followed his father's footsteps to work in construction. In the early 1970s, Lovell co-founded The Combine Inc., a home design and build company, with friends Geoff Richon and Bob Mitnick. Their first project was a speculative home in Lanesville; each room designed with a view of the bay. It marked the beginning of a dedicated career that spanned many decades. An accomplished and well-known carpenter, he was meticulous in his work. In the words of a former crew member, "he demanded a level of commitment to the work…and he did it without actually demanding anything. He had a way of making guys want to do good work for the sake of the work and for themselves". Before The Combine closed in 1991, they completed over 50 builds and rebuilds. Many of his clients became lifelong friends.
Lovell and his wife Mary raised their three children together in the post-and-beam home he built in Essex. Later in life, he moved to Vermont to work on the Richter estate and at Bensonwood. He and his second wife Jannice spent many happy years there – Vermont, Lovell said, felt like home when he was a child – "lots of woods; not many people".
He had a passion for music and reading, but his greatest joy came from watching his children and grandchildren grow. He was generous with his advice and shared great stories, and he was always willing to lend a hand or offer a gentle word of encouragement - if you needed help, there was never a question he would be there.
Lovell lived his final years back in West Gloucester, in a house built in collaboration with family and friends, overlooking Walker Creek, where he had many childhood adventures.
He was a gentle and humble man, remembered for his warmth, kindness and thoughtful spirit.
He leaves behind his children - Shauna, Kim, and Matt - their spouses, six grandchildren, seven siblings, and multiple nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed.
