Fred Allison Purcell Jr.

Dr. Fred A. Purcell, Jr., 63, passed away peacefully on the 24th of July 2012 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on the 19th of February 1949, in Oklahoma City, OK, to Evelyn and Fred A. Purcell, Sr. Fred graduated with the class of 1967 from Harding High School in Oklahoma City, where he excelled academically and athletically, earning All-City honors in basketball and All-State in baseball.

He attended the University of Oklahoma on a baseball scholarship and was a member of the OU President’s Leadership Class. Fred was honored as one of the 10 most outstanding freshmen for the OU class of 1967-68. He also excelled at OU earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and following his junior year, he entered dental school at Baylor University. After graduating from Baylor School of Dentistry with a Doctorate in Dental Surgery in 1974, he began his dental practice in Austin, Texas. After practicing dentistry for many years, Fred decided he would make a lifetime career choice to devote his full attention to his real estate investments. He had true talent and great vision for turning an ordinary piece of property into an extraordinary development.

Fred was an avid golfer. His membership at Austin Country Club allowed Fred to befriend Harvey Penick, a person Fred idolized and considered his inspirational mentor. Fred was nearly a scratch golfer and his golfing stories include playing the world’s greatest courses, making a hole-in-one that won him a car and many others. On any given day, he could be found at the driving range, hitting countless buckets of balls until the sun went down. Fred also loved being close to the water, he was fortunate to have lived on Malibu beach, Lake Austin, and Lake Travis. He enjoyed trips to ocean retreats where he loved to run on the beach.

Fred was a loving father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. Fred is survived by his daughters, Shay and her husband, Jason Rathbun and Stacy and her husband, Jeff Saikin; five grandchildren, who will forever miss “Bee” and “Freddy,” grandson, Preston Rathbun, granddaughter, Peyton Rathbun granddaughter, Riley Saikin, grandson Tanner Saikin and grandson, Cooper Saikin; Shay and Stacy’s mother, Mary Ann Purcell, of Austin, TX; mother, Evelyn and her husband, Bill Gentry, of Oklahoma City, OK; brothers, Judge Gary Purcell and his wife, Dr. Chris Purcell, of Norman, OK and Dr. Rex Purcell and his wife, Lori, of Raleigh, NC; sister, Jill and her husband Rick Hartman of Bartlesville, OK; one niece, Katie Purcell; nephews, Brad Purcell, of Norman, OK, Michael Purcell, of Norman, OK, Wilson Purcell, of Raleigh, NC, Patrick Jones, of Raleigh, NC, Scott Hartman of Denver, CO and Jeffrey Hartman, of Houston.

Fred was preceded in death by his father, Fred A. Purcell, Sr. and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, Sinus Cancer Research, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all of the wonderful friends and caregivers that offered their love and support. The family will receive friends at an informal gathering to celebrate Fred’s life on Saturday, the 28th of July from two o’clock until four o’clock in the afternoon at the Austin Country Club, 4408 Long Champ Drive, Austin, TX 78746.