Louella Purcell

Louella Marie Hahn Purcell, 92, of Olathe, KS, and formerly of Scott City, MO, died Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Overland Park Regional Medical Center in Overland Park, KS. She was born December 19, 1920 in Eleanor, OH, to the late Norton and Rosa Clark Hahn, the ninth of ten children. She grew up in southern Ohio near Cincinnati. Louella often talked about the fun times she shared with her siblings, especially those closest to her in age. On October 25, 1941 she was married to Edward K. Purcell in Goshen, OH. To this union were born four children. They started their marriage as farmers but "EK" (as Edward was known) soon left a pregnant wife and 18-month-old son to serve his country in the Navy. Things weren't easy for the military families with such poor communication opportunities available to them. After her husband pastored for several years, the family went to South America to be missionaries in the jungles of Suriname, South America, where Louella became nurse, school teacher, mid-wife, and friend to all. Later in life she referred to those days of snakes, alligators, hammocks with mosquito nets, vampire bats, fire ants, along with drinking, bathing, washing dishes and laundry all from the same river as "the good days". From there the family was transferred to Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Her greatest joy was in helping people; making a pot of soup, a cake, baking pies, entertaining church people, and especially baking cookies for teens or children. Her hobbies were raising flowers, camping, fishing, and canning from the bountiful harvest of hers and EK's garden and orchard. She worked in nursing homes quite a number of years, the last place of employment for seventeen years being the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau. She is survived by her children, Ed (Doris) Purcell of Olathe, KS, Barbara (Frank) Crockett of Silvis, IL, Minnie Martin of Topeka, KS; Tim (Dawn) Purcell of Charles City, IA, 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by all of her siblings, as well as her husband of 67 years. "Her children rise up and call her blessed" Proverbs 31:28 Visitation will be Friday, May 24, 2013 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau. Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Ford & Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel in Cape Girardeau with Tim Purcell officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau. Memorial contributions may be given to Global Partners for work being done in Suriname, South America. Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Louella Purcell

May 16, 2013