Edward Gary Purdy

Edward Gary Purdy, 82, of Fairview, Texas, died February 6, 2024 at Faith Presbyterian Hospice. Gary was born November 22, 1941 in Macon, Georgia to Virginia Gardner Purdy and Thomas Wesley Purdy. He was the middle of three boys.

Gary attended Sidney Lanier High School where he excelled in ROTC, oratory competitions, and won the honor of salutatorian in 1959. He followed his older brother to Baylor University where he earned a B.A. in Psychology in 1963. At Baylor, he worked his way through school and also dated and married an attractive co-ed from Paris, Texas, Phyllis Jean Kennedy.

Upon graduation, Gary landed a job with the burgeoning grocery store chain, HEB in Corpus Christi, Texas. Phyllis and Gary had their first son born later in 1963 – Edward Gary Purdy, Jr.  An opportunity in the hardware business took the family to Paris, Texas where Robert Allen Purdy was born in 1966.

In 1968, the family moved to Ft. Worth, Texas for Gary to study at Southwestern Theological Seminary. He also worked part-time at Greenwood Mt. Olivet Cemetery and Funeral Home, and after two years, he accepted a full-time position with the company. In 1971, their third son, Thomas Bradford Purdy was born. Another business opportunity moved the family to Franklin, Tennessee in 1975. Sensing a need for a career change, led Gary to become an investment banker at Republic Bank (Bank of America) in Dallas in 1978. Eventually, he became a financial planner and stockbroker with a private firm until his retirement in 2008.

Around his wife, Phyllis’, untimely death in 1998, Gary was comforted through the ministry of hospice. Upon his retirement, Gary returned to his seminary training to complete his M.Div. from Southwestern. After completing chaplain certification, Gary served as a volunteer chaplain with various hospice services and experienced a renewed sense of his call to the deep appreciation of the many families he served. In his retirement years, he married Carolyn Terry Purdy in 2014 with whom he enjoyed their retirement community of Heritage Ranch in Fairview, Texas. Carolyn and Gary have been faithful members of Stonebriar Community Church.

Gary is preceded in death by his mother, father, his late wife, Phyllis, daughter-in-law, Marilyn Purdy, and aunt, Carolyn Gardner. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Terry Purdy, brother Tom Purdy and wife Jan of Waco,Texas, brother Mike Purdy and wife, Robbie of Jonesboro, Georgia, son Gary Purdy of Davidson, North Carolina, son Rob Purdy and wife Sally of McKinney, Texas, son Thomas Purdy of Dallas, Texas, granddaughter Madison Werner and husband Daniel and great-granddaughters, Harper, Tennyson, and Collins of Magnolia, Texas, grandson Davis Purdy and wife Kaitlyn of Durham, North Carolina, grandson Jack Purdy of Dallas, Texas, granddaughter ClaraLane Hewlett and husband Hamilton of Pensacola, Florida, grandson Jacob Sheddy and wife Mazzerena of Aubrey, Texas, grandson Joseph Sheddy of Denton, Texas, grandson Jaxson Rothfuss and granddaughter Lexie Rothfuss of Euless, Texas.

Visitation with family will be from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2024 at Allen Family Funeral Options. The Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, 2024 in the chapel at Allen Family Funeral Options, with Mr. Ken Sheppard, officiating. Pall Bearers are Madison Werner, Davis Purdy, Jack Purdy, ClaraLane Hewlett, Jacob Sheddy, Joseph Sheddy, Jaxson Rothfuss, and Lexie Rothfuss.

Those wishing to join the memorial service via webcast may do so at: https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/97999

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made by mail to The T. Boone Pickens Hospice Center, Faith Presbyterian Hospice, 12477 Merit Dr., Dallas, Texas 75251, online to https://www.forefrontliving.org/donate-now/ or by phone to (214) 355-3926.