PURKINS, Lettie

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ June 25, 2007 Lettie Richards Purkins, 91, of Globe died June 19, 2007, in her home. She was born to Joseph Ezra "Ez" and Cora Cross Richards Jan. 12, 1916, in Joseph City. She was the last living child of 10 born of that union. Her paternal grandmother was Mary Willie Richards, daughter of Capt. James Willie of the Willie Handcart Company of 1856. Lettie used to laugh about her family having the first indoor toilet in Joe City and how her mother didn't think it was a sanitary item to have in the home. Lettie graduated from Holbrook High School and went to work for Lloyd Henning. It was there that she met Carl I. Purkins while he was working as a telegrapher for the Santa Fe Railroad. They were married in Gallup, N.M., on July 23, 1941. Carl brought two children to the marriage, 6-year-old Rex and 4-year-old Sandra. They lived in Joseph City until 1947 during which time Lettie cared for her bedridden mother, worked in the family grocery store, chauffered the kids to Holbrook for music lessons, got used to being a mom and made sure the children had a secure life. In 1947, they moved to the White Mountains, their first residence being a leaky tent at Sheep's Crossing, and then in the same tent in Pinetop. They moved into the Blue Ridge Motel in Pinetop while waiting for the Apache Railway Depot to be vacated in McNary. They lived in the depot, where Carl was the agent until 1950, when they moved to Globe for one year. They returned to McNary where they lived on Second Street. In 1953, they moved to Pinetop and later moved to Linden. In 1992, they moved to Globe, hoping Carl's health would improve. He passed away in Globe on Dec. 23, 1993. Lettie worked for Calapco (now known as Arizona Public Service) at the powerhouse next to the sawmill in McNary. Later, she worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Lakeside and for the Hennings in their Pinetop store. She was a wonderful decorator and could make any home, no matter how bleak, look like a model home. She was also an accomplished ceramic painter and loved to can. Her chow chow is legendary. Many pictures of grandchildren and great-grandchildren surrounded her and brought her joy. She had a positive outlook on life, loved a good joke and shopping from her catalogs. In 1978 they became guardians of their grandson, Josh, and raised him to adulthood. She and Carl were so happy to raise him. Their lives were full of cooking, cleaning, camping, canning, gardening, having horses, motorcycles and old trucks. She was in her element cooking a big pot of soup, stew or beans and passing them around to family and friends. She had very few health issues in her life. When she was 90, she got bitten by two scorpions but bounced right back. In her entire life, she never spent a night in the hospital. She is survivors by her daughter, Sandra Jones (Buck) of Idabel, Okla.; grandchildren Josh (Karen) Purkins of New Jersey, Jake Purkins of Lousiana, Karen (Doug) Kornbrust of Reno, Nev., Lisa (Dave) Tauchen of Reno, Nev., and Dave (Corinne) Buckingham of Paradise Valley, Nev.; great-grandchildren Kayla and Alyssa Purkins of New Jersey, Riley, Garek and Heather Tauchen of Reno, Nev., and Sara Grace Buckingham of Paradise Valley, Nev. She is also survived by her sister Thelma's children, Dick (Magdalena) Frost of San Francisco, Calif., Glen (Nelleva) Frost of Mesa, Jack (Gloria) Frost of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Claudia Sullivan of Globe. Since Thelma was 16 years older, Lettie grew up with the Frost children more as a sister than an aunt and was always included in their family activities. She is also survived by her brother Frank's son, Fred (Maureen) Richards of Safford. She was predeceased by husband, Carl in 1993; son Rex in Florida in August 2005, nieces Irene Frost Huso of Show Low (1988) and Blanche Frost Crain of Pinetop (2006). The family would like to acknowledge her great-niece and husband, Richard and Diane Sullivan Hernandez for taking care of her everyday needs the last few years, always getting her to weekly hair appointments, grocery store and doctor's visits, plus home maintenance. Margie Urquidez was a faithful housekeeper and friend. Lettie had a special relationship with niece Jani Huso. Friends Dixie and Alex Cameron were dedicated in bringing her mail and providing spiritual encouragement. Lettie was blessed to have many friends and family who really cared about her. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 27, in the LDS Church in Globe with visitation at 9 a.m. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. the same day in Lakeside, beside Carl. Arrangements by LaMont Mortuary in Globe.