When Missy Murphy Parish was a student at Dublin High School, her history teacher Patty Hirst left a great impression on her. “She told history like a story, and so that’s what made me want to get my degree in history,” she said. Mrs. Hirst also inspired Parish to get into teaching, and she is now retired from more than two decades of teaching second grade in Colorado.
Parish and her family came to Dublin from Irving when she was in junior high. “I loved it the minute I got there,” she said. “I became involved in sports, cheerleading — small towns afford you [the chance] to do some of the things that you might not be able to do in a very large city. And it’s a wonderful community.”
Parish graduated from Dublin High School in 1985, and went on to Tarleton State University. She stayed there for two years and earned her basics, then transferred to the University of Texas at Austin.
She graduated with her Bachelor’s in history in 1991 and still bleeds orange to this day. “Just ask my husband — my heart rate soars when I’m watching Longhorn sports!” she said.
After graduation, she began working in retail management. She managed a Gap store, then a Brooks Brothers. “While I enjoyed those experiences, I always knew my heart was in education,” She said. “So I returned to school, I earned my teaching degree from SMU, and began the career that I was truly meant to have and truly love.”
Parish finished her teaching degree in 1999, and soon after gave birth to her first child and moved to Colorado with her then-husband. “While living in Colorado, I earned my master’s degree in literacy in 2006 from the University of Colorado, and I spent 23 incredible years teaching second grade in Longmont,” she said. “It was truly my calling, and I was so glad that I was able to go back and make that choice and become a teacher.”
During her 23 years teaching in Longmont, Parish was named Teacher of the Year three separate times. “God gave me a gift, and I was just so happy to be a part of the education world,” she said.
Parish loved working with second graders. “They are who they are, and they are not afraid to say what’s on their mind or feel what they’re feeling,” she said. “From when I started to when I [retired], education has changed dramatically, but I think my favorite part of teaching was just the love you’re able to give those kids, because a lot of kids may not have that at home. You’re their safe place. I just tried to teach through love, because they have to respect you, they have to love you, or they’re not going to listen, they’re not going to want to be there. I think that was really my favorite part.
Although Parish has since moved away from Colorado back to Irving, Texas, she still works part time as a substitute teacher. “I just couldn’t stay away from the kids, and just getting hugs and smiles and high fives,” she said.
How Parish ended up back in Texas was a little unexpected. Parish’s mother, Judge Latrelle Cain, passed away in 2022. “She was one of the greatest influences in my life,” said Parish. “She was an incredible woman, and she was a source of so many of my core values, like kindness and honesty and compassion and service to others.”
Parish traveled back for her mom’s funeral, and there she reconnected with Todd Parish, who she had known as a child. “Life has a funny way of bringing people back together,” she said. “I hadn’t seen him since 1979. We actually grew up together. His mom and my mom were best friends. We did everything together, and he came to the funeral. And when I was little, I had a really huge crush on him. It’s almost like our moms were in Heaven, just putting us together.”
She and Todd started dating, and she moved back to Texas in 2023. The couple married in 2025. They’re currently living in Irving but building a home in Kerrville. “We’re very excited to start our life there,”she said. “We’re both retired. I retired when I moved to Texas. Since I moved here, my life has changed dramatically, but for the best, and I just know that it’s my mom looking down at me, just helping me along the way, because she always did.” They chose Kerrville because Todd has family there. Parish lost her sister and brother in 2014, and is grateful to be close to her husband’s family. “[Losing them] really changed my perspective on life,” she said. “It reminded me that life is precious, it’s fragile, and far too short. I just really try to live each day with gratitude and joy and purpose. You can’t waste a minute of this life we’re given, so that really did kind of change the way I looked at things.”
When Parish has free time, she enjoys reading. “I read all the time,” she said. “In fact, in my new house I’m going to have my very own library. I’ve designed it, I’ve styled it, it’s got bookshelves. Reading is my favorite pastime — and watching Texas Longhorn sports. Those two things keep me pretty busy.”
She also enjoys running — inspired by Dublin High School coach Cindy Davis — and has run more than 10 half marathons around the country.
Parish has two children from her previous marriage, a daughter Reagan, 24 and a son Jordan, 27. Reagan is currently preparing to go to law school, and Jordan is a plumber. Parish also has a half sister, Debbie Ewing. “She was an integral part of my life especially during my mom’s later years and during her passing,” said Parish. “I really couldn’t have made it though without her love and devotion for my mom.”
Throughout her life, Parish has been inspired by her mother and her faith. “She really was my idol,” she said. “Everything I learned, I learned from her. One thing she said to me as a mother is, ‘Mothers should always be there behind you if you fall, they should always be beside you in case you need them, but never in front of you to make your decisions.’” Judge Cain was well-known in the community, having served as City of Dublin Municipal Judge for 25 years Erath County Justice of the Peace Pct. 2 for 11 years. Returning to Texas, Parish was happy to see her mother’s legacy living on. “When I lived there, she was Missy Murphy’s mom. When I went back, I was Judge Cain’s daughter,” said Parish, laughing.
Her faith has also helped her through hard times. “I lost Him for a while when my siblings died, but He was always there, so I reached back out, and I found Him,” she said.
Parish currently attends the virtual services of Cottonwood Baptist Church with pastor Mike Fritscher. “I went to Cottonwood Baptist Church when Mike and his wife first got there, literally in this small little 16 pew wooden church, and the way he has built it up today is absolutely amazing,” she said. “If I lived in Dublin, I would actually attend, but I’m two hours away, so I watch every Sunday. And I hope to find a church in Kerrville, but Pastor Mike — he’s going to be hard to beat.”
One of Parish’s greatest challenges was raising both her kids as a single mom. “I raised both my kids by myself,” she said. “I got my master’s when they were two and five. I think just being that single mom, it was a big challenge to try to be everything to them, and believe me, I made mistakes, as most parents do, and we went through hard times. But they’re both successful, they’re both happy, healthy, and they’re good kids. And so I’d like to think I had a little bit to do with that, but again, that goes back to my mom and watching what she did.”
Parish offers the following advice to future Dublin graduates: “As you begin the next chapter of your life, remember that success is measured not only by what you achieve but by the person you become, so have the courage to take risks,” she said. “Learn from your mistakes, keep moving forward, treat others with kindness and respect, because character matters. Look for opportunities to serve others and make a positive difference wherever you go. Most importantly, I would say, stay true to your values, trust God’s plan for your life, and really never underestimate the impact you can make in this world.”
— Where Are They Now chronicles what Dublin graduates have done since high school. If you have any suggestions for other grads, email publisher@dublincitizen. com.