Dolly Parton is facing another family tragedy after the death of her brother Coy 'Denver' Parton, who died on Thursday at the age of 82. The sad news came a month after the country music icon lost her husband Carl Dean.
Brother's Obituary
Coy's obituary from the Atchley Funeral Home revealed he was a crane operator from Sevierville, Tennessee. There was no cause of death listed. Coy is the fifth brother Dolly has had to say goodbye to, after Larry, David, Randy, and Floyd all passed away.
Husband Carl Dean's Passing
Carl Dean was also 82 when he died in March last year. Dolly shared a touching tribute on Instagram, saying: "Carl Dean, husband of Dolly Parton, passed away March 3rd in Nashville at the age of 82. He will be laid to rest in a private ceremony with immediate family attending. He is survived by his siblings Sandra and Donnie." She added: "Carl and I spent many wonderful years together. Words can't do justice to the love we shared for over 60 years. Thank you for your prayers and sympathy. The family asks for privacy during this difficult time."
In a public appearance, she said: "Of course I will always love him, and I'll miss him, but I wanted you to know that I will always love you." Dolly also shared details of upcoming celebrations for Dollywood.
Messages of Support
Following Carl's death, Dolly was inundated with messages of support. She later thanked those who reached out: "Thank you for all the messages, cards, and flowers that you've sent to pay your respects for the loss of my beloved husband Carl. I can't reach out personally to each of you but just know it has meant the world to me. He is in God's arms now and I am okay with that. I will always love you."
Dolly did not reveal a cause of death for Carl, but he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2019. The couple maintained his privacy after the diagnosis.
Love Story
The duo met on the day Dolly moved to Nashville, outside a laundromat called Wishy Washy, and described it as love at first sight. On their 50th wedding anniversary in 2016, Carl said: "My first thought was I'm gonna marry that girl. My second thought was, Lord she's good lookin'. And that was the day my life began. I wouldn't trade the last 50 years for nothing on this earth."
Dolly previously told CMT about their wedding: "My mother made me a little white dress and a little bouquet. But I said, 'I can't get married in a courthouse because I'll never feel married.' So we found a little Baptist church in town, and went up to Pastor Don Duvall and said, 'Would you marry us?' We got pictures on the steps right outside the church."
