EVELYN JOY PURKETT obituary

Evelyn Joy (Huestis) Purkett, 74, died Monday, July 5, 2004, in the presence of her family at the family home, after a long battle with leukemia.

A memorial graveside service will be Thursday at 3 p.m. in the Highland Cemetery.

Evelyn was born on Sept. 21, 1929, in Hingham to Francis and Florence (Smith) Huestis. Evelyn married Willard Purkett on Dec. 1, 1948, in Great Falls.

Evelyn was known to many as "Granny."

Evelyn was preceded in death by a son, Williard E. Purkett; her parents; sisters, Gay Dahlberg, Deliah Mord and Bernice Streeter; and brothers, Roy Huestis and Frank Huestis.

She is survived by her husband, Willard; daughters, Sharon (Rick) Larson, Gayle (Doug) Jenkins, Arla (Barry) Keeling and Narda (Warren) Anderson, all of Havre; daughter-in-law Marjorie Purkett and son-in-law Ed Keeling, both of Havre; 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Inez Halter of Big Sandy, Leona Faltrino of Havre, Mildred (Gordon) Obie of Eugene, Ore.; numerous nieces and nephews; and very special friends of 57 years, Vic and Marj Fondrick of Maple Creek, Saskatchewan.

Memorials may be sent to the Williard E. Purkett Nursing Scholarship at the Montana State University-Northern Foundation; P.O. Box 1691; Havre, MT 59501, or to Fifth Avenue Christian Church, P.O. Box 1328, Havre, MT 59501.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.