Mary Edith Purnell, 84, of rural Wabash, Indiana, entered the gates to Heaven to be with God, where her husband of 61 years was waiting, at 3:08 am, Friday, June 7, 2019 at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was born August 10, 1934 in Evening Shade, Arkansas to Eathel and Elsie (Marlin) Shirley.
Mary married Bennie E. Purnell in Bono, Arkansas on March 4, 1951; he died December 3, 2012. She was a member of the Woodland Hills Church of Christ in Marion, Indiana. She enjoyed playing games, cooking, watching westerns on television, and was an avid fisherwoman. Mary was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, when she wrote “My heart is full of love.” May she walk with God and Bennie with joy.
She is survived by four daughters, Deborah (Lonnie) Fisher of Fort Wayne, Tina (Douglas) Dirig of Wabash, Mary (Rick) Ogle of Roann, Indiana, and Penny (Sherman Cox) Walter of Marion, Illinois, 17 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and her sister, Marie Collier of Independence, Mississippi. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and 7 brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be 5pm Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, 1241 Manchester Avenue, Wabash, with Pastor Tim Prater officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Lawns Cemetery, Wabash.
Preferred memorial is Alzheimer’s Association.
The memorial guest book for Mary may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.