Neal, on Oct. 24th 2016 heard the owl call his name, and Ol’ Clumsum came down off his last pole, tied his gear into a Thousand Mile Hitch and hopped aboard the ”Westbound” Freight Train to go be with the love of his life, his wife of 62+ years, Al (Olive Johnson Purdy). Neal was born in Dacoma, Ok on January 28th, 1918, to Ivan and Sylvia Purdy. The family moved to Inglewood, CA 1926 and to Kapowsin, WA, in 1935. He married the love of his life, Olive Johnson, in 1939 and in 1952 moved to Alder where he built the family home. He worked many jobs in his lifetime, each one teaching him a little something that was valuable to his life. He and Al (Olive) were members of the Alder Presbyterian Church, where they remodeled the kitchen among other updates. He retired from the City of Tacoma Nisqually Hydroelectric Project in 1981 to enjoy 10 years at the farm, traveling and planning the new house in Graham, and working on selling the 80 acres. He and Olive moved to their 2nd Dream home in 1989, where he lived until his death.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Billy (1939) and his brother, Don (2008). He is survived by his sister, Lois Ohlund; his daughters, Linda Gardiner, Diane (Bobby) Arnold and Pam (Don) Chambers; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren: 3 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and good friends.
Viewing will be Sunday, October 6th from 1-3pm at Powers funeral Home, 320 W. Pioneer in Puyallup, WA 98371. Grave Side Services will be held 11am, November 12th at Woodbine Cemetery 2323 9th St. SW, Puyallup, WA 98373. The family is welcoming all to come back to the family home afterwards for food and sharing of memories.
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Vernon Neal Purdy / Jan. 28, 1918-Oct. 24, 2016
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