The following obituaries were received for Monday –
Mary V. (Abel) Purkhiser – Lost River Township
Mary V. (Abel) Purkhiser, 84, of Lost River Township in Martin County went to be with her Lord and Savior on April 6, 2013 at 10:10 pm at the Loogootee Nursing Center.
Born in Lost River Township on May 22, 1928 to William Harrison and Lottie Mae Abel. She married Virgil E. Purhiser on May 25, 1947 and he preceded her in death on May 9, 1971.
Mary attended eight years in school at Bateman School in Lost River Township. She continued her education by receiving her high school diploma in 1979 and took Associated Classes in Accounting from Jasper Vincennes University. Her daughter, Norma, was extremely proud of her mom’s accomplishments by receiving her high school diploma in 1980.
Mary followed her husband, Virgil’s military career with the Marines at Barstow, California, finding part-time work at a small dime store. She enjoyed many activities including farming, raising Hereford cattle, gardening, carpentering, remolding houses, canning, cooking and she dearly loved working with electronics. She also had a weakness for Arabian Desert stories.
Mary dedicated 67 years of her life to working many jobs, including the Reliance Factory in Loogootee, Traveler’s Corporation at Orleans, and Tredway’s Market in Shoals as a cashier and meat cutter. She served as the Lost River Township Trustee for 22 years and then retired from the Crane Naval Weapon Support Center after 27 years of service. She received many of the spot awards and certificates from Crane in electronics. She was also presented with an award by Ray Tredway from Tredway’s Market, stating that she was the prettiest meat cutter in Martin County.
A faithful member and attendee of Waggoner’s Chapel in Lost River, she served as the church trustee and was the key person responsible for saving the church from being destroyed in 1992.
To their union was born one daughter, Norma Jean, of Lost River Township and she survives. Mary is also survived by a sisnter-in-law Violet Roberts, of Shoals; a niece Sheila Cushman; nephew John Abel; great niece Terri Alcorn; great nephew, Chris Cushman. Other close family members are Jennifer Roberts, Christopher Cushman, Nici Land, Hannah Land and Olivia Alcorn.
Mary was the last of her immediate family, preceded in death by her parents, one brother Norman H. Abel and a sister Ida E. Abel in infancy.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 from 4 pm to 8 pm at the Queen-Lee Funeral Home in Shoals. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, at 1 pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in Waggoner’s Chapel Cemetery.
Preferred memorials are to be made to the Tuesday’s Knitters who make hats for patients with cancer. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
Condolences may be made on line to the family at www.queenlee.com.
