Rev. E.K. Purcell

Edward K. Purcell, of Brookings, S.D. died Monday, August 25, 2008, at the Brookview Manor at the age of 84. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., August 30, 2008, at the First Church of the Nazarene, Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, August 29, at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mt. Auburn Road in Cape Girardeau. Memorials may be directed to Global Partners, the missions outreach of the Wesleyan Church. Edward Kenneth (E.K.) Purcell was born September 18, 1923 in Broadhead, Kentucky to Edward and Minnie (Owens) Purcell. Shortly after his birth the family moved to the Batavia, Ohio area, where he grew up. He married Louella Marie Hahn on October 25, 1941. Two years later he entered the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Bassett in the Southern Pacific during World War II. As a member of the Bassett crew, he was part of the rescue effort for the survivors of the USS Indianapolis. After returning from the Navy, Edward continued his education, receiving Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Arts, Master of Theology and Doctor of Theology degrees. Edward was ordained as a minister in the Pilgrim Holiness Church (now Wesleyan Church) in August of 1949. In the mid-1950's he and Louella served as missionaries in Suriname, South America and Curacao, N.A. After returning to the U.S., he pastored churches in Indiana, Michigan, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Edward received many honors in his life, including being listed in Marquis� �Who�s Who in Religion� and the American Biographical Institute�s �Community Leaders and Noteworthy Americans�. Most important to him, however, was knowing that he was listed in God�s �book of life�. Edward is survived by Louella, his wife of almost 67 years, of Brookings; four children, Edward (Doris) Purcell of Olathe, Kansas; Barbara (Frank) Crockett of Silvis, Illinois; Minnie Martin of Topeka, Kansas; and Tim (Dawn) Purcell of Brookings, South Dakota; two brothers, John W. Purcell of Cincinnati, and Glenn Purcell of Denver, Colorado; a sister, Sarah Culpepper of Batavia, Ohio; twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren and a host of other family and friends.

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Rev. E.K. Purcell

August 25, 2008