Bobbie Nell Purvis

Bobbie Nell Purvis, 83, died Monday, June 11, 2007 at a local care facility. Funeral services, with Steve Thompson officiating, will be at 10:00 am on Friday, June 15 at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road. Graveside services will be at 12:30 pm in the Cross Plains Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 until 7:00 on Thursday at the funeral home. Bobbie was born in Atwell, Texas to Robert Nelson and Clarissie Obera "Foster" Brashear. She was raised on the family farm in Callahan County where she worked along side her father. In 1941, she graduated from Cross Plains High School. Bobbie moved to Ft. Worth where she worked at a clothing factory. She married her childhood neighbor, John Milton Purvis, Jr. on July 23, 1943 in Castroville, Texas. After moving from Altus, Oklahoma to Abilene in 1954, Bobbie worked for Timex and the Abilene State School. She retired from the Abilene State School in 1989. Bobbie was a volunteer for the American Heart Association. She was a member of the Atwell Baptist Church and later the Hamby Baptist Church. Over the years, Bobbie enjoyed working in her yard, tending to her flowers, quilting and embroidering. Her family will always cherish the quilts, scarves, and pillow cases that she stitched with love. She was inspiring to all that knew her and she was truly an incredible women. Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, James Lynn Brashear and Arvin Nelson Brashear; one sister, Billie Joyce Matthews; five grandsons, Michael and Brad Watts, Steve Lane, Bradley Diggs, Timmy Purvis, and two great-grandsons, the Altimari twins. She is survived by two sons; Lloyd Purvis of Lufkin, Texas and Donald Purvis of Abilene; four daughters, Johnelle Hicks and her husband Victor of Hamby, Joretta Watts and her husband Albert of Hamby, Jacqulynn Hoyt and her husband Roy of Abilene, and Debbie Diggs and her husband Joe of Arlington, Texas; one daughter in law, Barbara Speers of Huntington, Texas; one sister, Belinda Bains and her husband Oran of Cross Plains, Texas; three sister-in-laws, Sarah Brashear of Cross Plains, Lucille Killough of Rockport, Texas, and Joyce Sherwood of Moore, Oklahoma; thirteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Bobbie's family would like to thank Dr. James Wray, Windcrest Alzheimers Care Center, and Sears Methodist Hospice. Memorials may be made to Sears Methodist Hospice, 3233 South Willis, Abilene, Texas 79605, Windcrest Alzheimers Care Center, 6050 Hospital Drive, Abilene, Texas 79606, or the donor's favorite charity.