Gervaise Purcell

Gervaise Purcell (Jerry)of most recently Bumpass, Virginia joined his beloved wife Nicky once again on January 14, 2024 in Fredericksburg, Virginia with his loving daughter by his side. He was 83 years old.

“Jerry” was born 1/26/1940 in Washington, DC the youngest of 3 children of Ganson and Catharine Purcell. He had a very full life in Washington and spent his summers on Bass River in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, sailing and getting into mischief. He met his wife, Nicky, on the river as children and married at 21. They raised 2 devoted children in Chevy Chase, Md and later in retirement spent their glory years in Montana and on a lake in Virginia. He was known for his witty, dry sense of humor and love of music. He played the 12 string guitar and banjo, and could play by ear and pick up any tune. In his younger years he had the great fortune to meet and play folk music with several well known folk music groups (for fun) and sometimes made up little “ditties” for his kids when they were young. Professionally he was a Human Resources director for several companies and was known and respected for his expertise in the Human Resources world.

In his later years he was unfortunately diagnosed with and suffered from Parkinson’s disease, he faced it with grace and determination not to let it stop him but sadly it got the best of him and his humor and music were silenced.

He is survived and will be dearly missed by his children daughter, Cammie (Terry) and Gervaise (Deborah), his sister Patricia and many loving cousins, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Ganson jr and just barely by his wife of 61 years Navarre (Nicky).

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made in his name to Michael J Fox foundation or the Yellowstone Park foundation.

Service and burial will be held at a later date.