Obituary for Max Purdy
Ponca City Now - July 10, 2015 12:00 am
Max Allen Purdy of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Friday, July 10, 2015, at his home west of Blackwell at the age of 90 years.
Max Allen Purdy was born on December 8, 1924, in Blackwell to Reuben Edward and Cora Caroline (Kuehn) Purdy. He grew up in Kay County attending Old Bethel Rural School through the eighth grade. He then transferred into Blackwell Public Schools where he graduated from Blackwell High School in 1942. Following his education he helped with the family farming operation. On November 20, 1945, he entered the United States Army before transferring into the Army Air Corps where he served as a weather observer. After his honorable discharge on July 31, 1946, he returned to Kay County to farm. He married Edith Meritta Barrows on December 15, 1949, in Blackwell and they settled in Blackwell before moving to a farm northeast of town. In 1965 they returned to the Purdy home place west of Blackwell and he continued his farming and sheep production operation. He was a lifetime member of the Trinity Lutheran Church and a seventy-three year member of the American Hampshire Sheep Association. He also held memberships with the American Legion, Blackwell Rural Water Board, Kay County Sheep Producers, Oklahoma Sheep and Wool Producers, Oklahoma Grange and Blackwell Senior Citizens Center. Through Oklahoma State University he participated in the Oklahoma Sheep Expansion Program. He was best known for his ability to tell jokes to his many friends and family.
He is survived by his wife Edith Purdy of Blackwell; a daughter, Carol Sue Purdy Quinn and husband Jerry of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; two sons, Larry Max Purdy and wife Juanita of Blackwell and John Alan Purdy and wife Pam of Blackwell; a sister, Merlyn Hurd of New York City; a brother, Wayne Purdy and wife Jean of Blackwell; twelve grandchildren; seventeen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Kenneth Ray Purdy; and three brothers, Melvin, Marvin and Bob Purdy.
Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 15th in the Trinity Lutheran Church in Blackwell with Rev. Ned Moerbe officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army.
Casketbearers will be David Quinn, Neal Purdy, Lonnie Purdy, J. L. Purdy and Bob Quinn. Honorary casketbearers will be the Oklahoma Sheep and Wool Producers.
A memorial has been established in his honor with the Trinity Lutheran Church and Hospice of North Central Oklahoma in c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.