Jerry Neil Purkaple, 88, of San Angelo, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather went home to be with the Lord at his home on Thursday, March 28, 2019, after a lengthy illness. At the time of his death he was a resident of Baptist Retirement Center, where his wife Lela still resides.
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 14, 1930 to Howard Marion Purkaple Sr. and Rebecca Mae (Prince) Purkaple. Jerry accepted Christ as Savior and Lord during an August revival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arp, Texas in 1943. He later graduated from Arp High School in 1947. He met Lela Ann Lewis in Notrees, Texas, where both families lived at the Shell Oil Camp. After attending Odessa Junior College and Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine, Texas, he and Lela were engaged in February 1951. He volunteered for the draft, entered the Army March 1951 during the Korean conflict and was discharged in March 1953.
Lela and Jerry were married September 16, 1951 at First Baptist Church Notrees, Texas. He obtained a BS in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in August 1956 and began working for El Paso Natural Gas Company in Midland Texas. Following a transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah, Jerry and his family became part of Rose Park Baptist Church. Believing the Lord had called him to full time ministry, Jerry quit his job in June 1960 and moved his family to California where he earned his Masters of Religious Education degree in 1962 from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. For the next 20 years, Jerry served in churches in California, Texas, and Arizona. In 1982 he and Lela were appointed missionaries of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served as Director of Missions of the Desert Pines Association in the White Mountains of Arizona. Following retirement in 1995, Jerry and Lela relocated to San Angelo.
Jerry loved ministry. He also enjoyed singing, whistling, painting, and creating stained glass art. Two of his most memorable and largest pieces of stained-glass art are doves which are on display at Baptist Retirement Center; one at Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center and the other in the chapel.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Margaret (Robinson) Purkaple, and his brother, Howard Marion Purkaple, Jr.
He is survived by his wife Lela, his son Jerry D. Purkaple and wife Gail of Anna, Texas, daughters Janan Alford and husband Ron of Broomfield, Colorado, and Laurie Hirschfeld and husband Dennis of San Angelo, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his step sister Amarr Vines and husband Eddie of Corpus Christi, Texas, niece Michele Purkaple of New Virginia, Iowa, and nephew Randy Purkaple of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Family visitation will be on Tuesday, April 2, from 4 to 6pm at Johnson Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at 2pm in the Chapel at Baptist Retirement Community, followed by a family graveside service at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care Jerry received from the staff of Baptist Retirement Community, Visiting Angels, Shannon Medical Center, and Hospice of San Angelo.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, but they take great comfort in the assurance from 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be away from the body is to be with the Lord.
FAMILY
Howard Marion Purkaple Sr., Father
Rebecca Mae Purkaple, Mother
Lela Ann Purkaple, Spouse
Margaret Purkaple, Step-Mother
Howard Marion Purkaple Jr., Brother
Amarr and husband Eddie Vines, Step-Sister
Jerry D. and his wife Gail Purkaple, Son
Laurie and husband Dennis Hirschfeld, Daughter
Janan and her husband Ron Alford, Daughter
Randy Purkable, Nephew
Michele Purkable, Niece
Johnson's Funeral Home
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 14, 1930 to Howard Marion Purkaple Sr. and Rebecca Mae (Prince) Purkaple. Jerry accepted Christ as Savior and Lord during an August revival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arp, Texas in 1943. He later graduated from Arp High School in 1947. He met Lela Ann Lewis in Notrees, Texas, where both families lived at the Shell Oil Camp. After attending Odessa Junior College and Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine, Texas, he and Lela were engaged in February 1951. He volunteered for the draft, entered the Army March 1951 during the Korean conflict and was discharged in March 1953.
Lela and Jerry were married September 16, 1951 at First Baptist Church Notrees, Texas. He obtained a BS in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in August 1956 and began working for El Paso Natural Gas Company in Midland Texas. Following a transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah, Jerry and his family became part of Rose Park Baptist Church. Believing the Lord had called him to full time ministry, Jerry quit his job in June 1960 and moved his family to California where he earned his Masters of Religious Education degree in 1962 from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. For the next 20 years, Jerry served in churches in California, Texas, and Arizona. In 1982 he and Lela were appointed missionaries of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served as Director of Missions of the Desert Pines Association in the White Mountains of Arizona. Following retirement in 1995, Jerry and Lela relocated to San Angelo.
Jerry loved ministry. He also enjoyed singing, whistling, painting, and creating stained glass art. Two of his most memorable and largest pieces of stained-glass art are doves which are on display at Baptist Retirement Center; one at Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center and the other in the chapel.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Margaret (Robinson) Purkaple, and his brother, Howard Marion Purkaple, Jr.
He is survived by his wife Lela, his son Jerry D. Purkaple and wife Gail of Anna, Texas, daughters Janan Alford and husband Ron of Broomfield, Colorado, and Laurie Hirschfeld and husband Dennis of San Angelo, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his step sister Amarr Vines and husband Eddie of Corpus Christi, Texas, niece Michele Purkaple of New Virginia, Iowa, and nephew Randy Purkaple of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Family visitation will be on Tuesday, April 2, from 4 to 6pm at Johnson Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at 2pm in the Chapel at Baptist Retirement Community, followed by a family graveside service at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care Jerry received from the staff of Baptist Retirement Community, Visiting Angels, Shannon Medical Center, and Hospice of San Angelo.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, but they take great comfort in the assurance from 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be away from the body is to be with the Lord.
FAMILY
Howard Marion Purkaple Sr., Father
Rebecca Mae Purkaple, Mother
Lela Ann Purkaple, Spouse
Margaret Purkaple, Step-Mother
Howard Marion Purkaple Jr., Brother
Amarr and husband Eddie Vines, Step-Sister
Jerry D. and his wife Gail Purkaple, Son
Laurie and husband Dennis Hirschfeld, Daughter
Janan and her husband Ron Alford, Daughter
Randy Purkable, Nephew
Michele Purkable, Niece
Johnson's Funeral Home
Jerry Neil Purkaple, 88, of San Angelo, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather went home to be with the Lord at his home on Thursday, March 28, 2019, after a lengthy illness. At the time of his death he was a resident of Baptist Retirement Center, where his wife Lela still resides.
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 14, 1930 to Howard Marion Purkaple Sr. and Rebecca Mae (Prince) Purkaple. Jerry accepted Christ as Savior and Lord during an August revival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arp, Texas in 1943. He later graduated from Arp High School in 1947. He met Lela Ann Lewis in Notrees, Texas, where both families lived at the Shell Oil Camp. After attending Odessa Junior College and Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine, Texas, he and Lela were engaged in February 1951. He volunteered for the draft, entered the Army March 1951 during the Korean conflict and was discharged in March 1953.
Lela and Jerry were married September 16, 1951 at First Baptist Church Notrees, Texas. He obtained a BS in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in August 1956 and began working for El Paso Natural Gas Company in Midland Texas. Following a transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah, Jerry and his family became part of Rose Park Baptist Church. Believing the Lord had called him to full time ministry, Jerry quit his job in June 1960 and moved his family to California where he earned his Masters of Religious Education degree in 1962 from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. For the next 20 years, Jerry served in churches in California, Texas, and Arizona. In 1982 he and Lela were appointed missionaries of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served as Director of Missions of the Desert Pines Association in the White Mountains of Arizona. Following retirement in 1995, Jerry and Lela relocated to San Angelo.
Jerry loved ministry. He also enjoyed singing, whistling, painting, and creating stained glass art. Two of his most memorable and largest pieces of stained-glass art are doves which are on display at Baptist Retirement Center; one at Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center and the other in the chapel.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Margaret (Robinson) Purkaple, and his brother, Howard Marion Purkaple, Jr.
He is survived by his wife Lela, his son Jerry D. Purkaple and wife Gail of Anna, Texas, daughters Janan Alford and husband Ron of Broomfield, Colorado, and Laurie Hirschfeld and husband Dennis of San Angelo, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his step sister Amarr Vines and husband Eddie of Corpus Christi, Texas, niece Michele Purkaple of New Virginia, Iowa, and nephew Randy Purkaple of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Family visitation will be on Tuesday, April 2, from 4 to 6pm at Johnson Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at 2pm in the Chapel at Baptist Retirement Community, followed by a family graveside service at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care Jerry received from the staff of Baptist Retirement Community, Visiting Angels, Shannon Medical Center, and Hospice of San Angelo.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, but they take great comfort in the assurance from 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be away from the body is to be with the Lord.
FAMILY
Howard Marion Purkaple Sr., Father
Rebecca Mae Purkaple, Mother
Lela Ann Purkaple, Spouse
Margaret Purkaple, Step-Mother
Howard Marion Purkaple Jr., Brother
Amarr and husband Eddie Vines, Step-Sister
Jerry D. and his wife Gail Purkaple, Son
Laurie and husband Dennis Hirschfeld, Daughter
Janan and her husband Ron Alford, Daughter
Randy Purkable, Nephew
Michele Purkable, Niece
Johnson's Funeral Home
He was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on December 14, 1930 to Howard Marion Purkaple Sr. and Rebecca Mae (Prince) Purkaple. Jerry accepted Christ as Savior and Lord during an August revival at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Arp, Texas in 1943. He later graduated from Arp High School in 1947. He met Lela Ann Lewis in Notrees, Texas, where both families lived at the Shell Oil Camp. After attending Odessa Junior College and Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine, Texas, he and Lela were engaged in February 1951. He volunteered for the draft, entered the Army March 1951 during the Korean conflict and was discharged in March 1953.
Lela and Jerry were married September 16, 1951 at First Baptist Church Notrees, Texas. He obtained a BS in Geology from the University of Texas at Austin in August 1956 and began working for El Paso Natural Gas Company in Midland Texas. Following a transfer to Salt Lake City, Utah, Jerry and his family became part of Rose Park Baptist Church. Believing the Lord had called him to full time ministry, Jerry quit his job in June 1960 and moved his family to California where he earned his Masters of Religious Education degree in 1962 from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. For the next 20 years, Jerry served in churches in California, Texas, and Arizona. In 1982 he and Lela were appointed missionaries of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He served as Director of Missions of the Desert Pines Association in the White Mountains of Arizona. Following retirement in 1995, Jerry and Lela relocated to San Angelo.
Jerry loved ministry. He also enjoyed singing, whistling, painting, and creating stained glass art. Two of his most memorable and largest pieces of stained-glass art are doves which are on display at Baptist Retirement Center; one at Sagecrest Alzheimer's Care Center and the other in the chapel.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his step-mother Margaret (Robinson) Purkaple, and his brother, Howard Marion Purkaple, Jr.
He is survived by his wife Lela, his son Jerry D. Purkaple and wife Gail of Anna, Texas, daughters Janan Alford and husband Ron of Broomfield, Colorado, and Laurie Hirschfeld and husband Dennis of San Angelo, 11 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his step sister Amarr Vines and husband Eddie of Corpus Christi, Texas, niece Michele Purkaple of New Virginia, Iowa, and nephew Randy Purkaple of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Family visitation will be on Tuesday, April 2, from 4 to 6pm at Johnson Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 3, at 2pm in the Chapel at Baptist Retirement Community, followed by a family graveside service at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens under the direction of Johnson's Funeral Home.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care Jerry received from the staff of Baptist Retirement Community, Visiting Angels, Shannon Medical Center, and Hospice of San Angelo.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his family, but they take great comfort in the assurance from 2 Corinthians 5:8 that to be away from the body is to be with the Lord.
FAMILY
Howard Marion Purkaple Sr., Father
Rebecca Mae Purkaple, Mother
Lela Ann Purkaple, Spouse
Margaret Purkaple, Step-Mother
Howard Marion Purkaple Jr., Brother
Amarr and husband Eddie Vines, Step-Sister
Jerry D. and his wife Gail Purkaple, Son
Laurie and husband Dennis Hirschfeld, Daughter
Janan and her husband Ron Alford, Daughter
Randy Purkable, Nephew
Michele Purkable, Niece
Johnson's Funeral Home
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