Steven "Steve" Edward Purcell....Age 60

Steven Edward “Steve” Purcell age 60, of Osawatomie, Kansas formerly of McPherson, Kansas died suddenly Tuesday morning, March 11, 2014 at his home.

Steve was born February 15, 1954 in Crawford, Indiana the third child of ten born to Walter L. and Elfrieda Mae (Umbarger) Purcell.

He attended school in Indiana and Ulysses, Kansas. Steve enlisted in the United States Air Force and served for two years in the state of Texas.

On August 23, 1976 he married Cindy Lou Crispin in Ulysses, Kansas. They became the parents of two daughters. Their marriage ended in divorce. Steve later married Sherri Froese and they became the parents of one son and a daughter, that marriage also ended in divorce. Twelve years after he and Cindy divorced they reunited and was remarried in 1997, they have remained married for seventeen years.

Steve lived most of his adult life in McPherson, Kansas working as a truck driver and in home repair. When employment became difficult to find in the area, he moved his family to Osawatomie, Kansas in hopes of a more stable life. Steve had just accepted a new position as a driver for a trucking company in Woodward, Oklahoma and had spent two months there getting his new job started, he had just returned a few days before.

Steve enjoyed the simple things in life, family and friends and going camping and fishing when he could. Family was the most important of things to him.  He and Cindy also helped care for their daughter Kimberly and her two minor children. Kimberly died on March 7, 2013. His wife, children and grandchildren were the ones that he gave his time and love to, and of course their dog “Lady Bug”.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Kimberly Purcell and an infant brother Gary Purcell at the age of two years.

He is survived by his wife Cindy of the home, his daughter Vanessa (John) Stewart of Osawatomie, KS, son Christopher R. Evans of Kansas City, MO and daughter Lindsey R. Evans of Warrensburg, MO, his siblings: Jane, Dorothy, Dicky, Larry, Sue, Marty, Genny, and Louis. Five grandchildren: Zachary Purcell, Dakota Purcell, Bobby Stewart, Katrina Achuleta and Teela Scott.