Elsie Kathleen Purnell, 91, of Kingston, Okla., left this earth June 28, 2022, in Clinton, Okla. Elsie was born to Charles Edward and Nancy Pearl (Daniel) Knowles October 14, 1930, in Idabel, Okla. She was reared on the family sweet potato farm and graduated from Idabel High School in 1948.
She and Charles S. Justus married in Idabel in 1953. Their son, Larry Wayne, preceded them in death. Charles died in 1955. Their daughter Ann was born in 1956. Elsie worked for Southwestern Bell
Elsie worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator at the time and transferred from Idabel to Madill in 1960 as a service representative.
She and McLean (Mack) Purnell married September 1, 1961. Mack adopted Ann, and the family moved to Shay, where Mack had taken a job managing Texoma Christian Camp.
Elsie worked at Southwestern Bell until their son, Rick, was born in 1962. She stayed home for a few years and then worked for the late Dr. Leonard Hock in Kingston. In 1972, she began work at Madill Bank and Trust and retired in 1995.
In 1996, Elsie and Mack built a new house on Mack’s family home place in Shay. Elsie loved being at home and enjoyed lovely sunrises from the front porch and cherished ending the days with the beautiful sunsets seen from their back porch.
Elsie enjoyed cooking and was amazing at it. Quilting, gardening, sewing and other crafts occupied her time. She taught 3rd and 4th grade Sunday school for a few years. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and six great-granddaughters. In addition to Charles, Larry Wayne and Mack, Elsie
In addition to Charles, Larry Wayne and Mack, Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law Alice and Nyle Rathbon; brother Charles Knowles; nephews Bobby, Chuck and Mike Rathbone; nephews Randy and Tommy Knowles; sisters-in-law Oleta “Short” Armstrong, Claudia M. “Babe” Purnell and Laura Purnell; sister and brother-in-law Linnie and T.B. Bearden, nephew Don Bearden and brother-in-law Frank Purnell.
Elsie is survived by her children, Ann Moore and husband Doug of Clinton, Okla., and Rick Purnell of Palm Springs, Calif.; grandchildren/great-grandchildren, Walker Moore and wife Tasha, daughters Ava, Adaline and McKenna of Carrolton, Texas, Sam Moore and daughters Maia, Sela and Audrie of Philadelphia, Penn.; sister, Edna Frunk and husband, Winford of Albany, Ore.; sister-in-law, Sue Needham of Idabel, Okla., and multiple cousins, nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.
A graveside service honoring her memory took place Friday, July 1, at Shay Cemetery.
The family offers great thanks to those who have helped Elsie over the years. For those wishing to share memorials, please make donations to your choice of the Shay Community Center, 7519 Shay Rd., Kingston, Okla., 73439, or Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp, P.O. Box 440, Madill, Okla., 73446.