Virginia L. Puryear

Virginia was born the sixth of eight children in Parsons, Kansas, on September 22, 1923. Her father and mother, William and Emily Hester, moved the family to Colorado during the Great Depression.

Virginia delighted in learning, excelled at school, and graduated from high school at 16. The economics of the time sent her off to work as a telephone operator after high school. She married Richard Lee Puryear in 1945 and they raised a family of three girls Linda, Marcia, and Joan.

The family lived primarily in Colorado but spent one year in Tucson, Arizona. (where Virginia killed a rattlesnake with a hoe in the bamboo of the backyard).

They also lived for year and a half in Israel, which was a great adventure for the whole family. (Virginia had to learn enough Hebrew to negotiate in the markets.)

Virginia was engaged and involved, always there and supportive of her children and her grandchildren. She was involved in their lives and their pursuits. Present for their activities, helpful in their challenges and comforting in their difficulties. She brought humor, wisdom, and enthusiasm.

A natural teacher Virginia shared so many of her skills with her family; cooking, sewing, baking, gardening.

She made Halloween costumes, set up many birthday parties and baked amazing treats and lemon meringue pies for family celebrations.

She was a creative person. She loved quilting and copper work. She wrote short stories. She loved to read and to walk.

Virginia was a woman of strong Christian faith all of her life. She raised her children in the church and lived her life practicing the presence of God and seeking guidance and direction through all of the difficult days. She also practiced gratitude and joy in the moment, in the flowers, in the hummingbirds. Her life was marked by gratitude and grace.

Always known as gentle and warm, Virginia was also brave in the face of adversity and persistent in the face of challenges.

After moving to Clermont Park retirement community Virginia became an active volunteer there. From her work as the secretary of the Resident's Council to her afternoons calling bingo for the "older people", and doing the nightly checks to see that people's safety rings were on their doors, Virginia was again engaged in her Community.

Her family has had the joy and blessing of her presence for all of their lives and she will indeed be very greatly missed by all.

She is survived by:

One sister Francis Ford

Two daughters, Joan Puryear and Linda Elderkin

Her sons-in-law, Richard Elderkin and Tom Dunning

Her grandchildren, Paul and David Dunning, Katherine Kendrick and Christopher Elderkin and spouses Pat Kendrick and Osa Dunning

Her Great grandchildren James and Rebecca Kendrick

Niece Nancy Ford and nephews

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am, Sunday, August 27, 2017 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, with visitation being held one hour prior. Burial will be held in Olinger Chapel Hill Cemetery.