PURDY, Wilma Maree (Elledge) - b. November 12, 1936 - d. January 6, 2011

[Janet Harrington]

Wilma Maree (Elledge) Purdy, 87, of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Thursday, January 6, 2011, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Blackwell.
She was born November 12, 1923, to Ray and Ruth Elledge on the homestead west of Blackwell that William Payne's family staked out in the Cherokee Strip Run.

She attended Star Country School and graduated from Blackwell High School in 1941. She married Marvin Purdy on March 27, 1944, in Blackwell and lived in rural Blackwell for awhile before moving to Oxford, Kansas in 1950. While living in the Oxford area, she was active in the First United Methodist Church and served as a 4-H community leader in Cowley County. She and her husband moved back to Oklahoma in 1964. They celebrated 66 years of marriage before her death.  Mrs. Purdy was a member of Blackwell First United Methodist Church, Alco Club, Domestic Science EHU, Kay County Free Fair, and the National, State and Bethel Grange.

Survivors include her husband, of the home; a son, Ray Purdy and his wife, Dena, of Garden City, Kansas; a daughter, Marvis Gaddie and her husband, Jim, of Winfield, Kansas; seven grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, January 8, 2011 at the Blackwell First United Methodist Church with her grandson, Pastor Mike Gaddie, and Pastor Kristen Brown officiating. Arrangements are under the directions of the Blackwell Funeral Home, Blackwell, Oklahoma.

Memorials may be made to the Blackwell First United Methodist Church in care of Blackwell Funeral Home, 301 W. Blackwell, Blackwell, OK 74631. Condolences may be sent to the family using the online guest book at www.blackwellfh.com.