Frances Mayree (O'Briant) Purdy |
| Posted 2009-03-23 by Pat Wilson |
| The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona July 9, 2003 Frances Mayree Purdy, 72, passed away July 7, 2003. She was wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and teacher. Fran fought a long battle for survival after suffering a serious disease requiring open-chest surgery. She was born in Vaiden, Mississippi on February 1, 1931, to Leroy and Ida Lee O'BRIANT at a rural home. She attended Mississippi State College for Women, where she worked hard to become a top student. She met her husband-to-be, an Air Force Aviation Cadet, on a blind date while a student at MSCW and married him not long after graduating. She thought of herself as a country girl, but her marriage took her into many environments and to Japan. Fran found Air Force life exciting but dreaded the frequent relocations which meant parting with friends. Fran loved trees and gardening. She filled her small ranch in Northwest Phoenix with fruit trees of all kinds, spent time in her garden every day, and shared the produce with everyone around her. She also loved children and expressed that love as a third grade teacher at Luke AFB Elementary School for 25 years and in her retirement as a dedicated grandmother. She had four children, all in different parts of the country - one was born in Japan. From there she became a grandmother to six and this year she became a great-grandmother. She is survived, loved and deeply missed by her family, sister, friends, former students and countless others whose lives she touched. Services were held at St John Lutheran Church, 7205 N. 51st Avenue in Glendale. Graveside services were at Resthaven Cemetery, 63rd Ave and Northern. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?