Individual Details

The Owosso Argus-Press, Friday, Dec. 11, 1936
Page 6

Mrs. Purkiss, 72, Taken by Death
Owosso Lady Expires at Son's Home in Flint

Mrs. Emma Louisa Purkiss, aged 72 years, widow of James Purkiss and mother of Otto Purkiss, North Washington street, died at the home of another son, Theodore Purkiss, in Flint Thursday night. She had been gradually failing for some time, and had shown a general decline since the dath of her husband in 1931.

The funeral will be held Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Jennings-Lyons Funeral home here. The Rev. John Meredith will officiate and burial will take place at Hill Crest cemetery.

Mrs. Purkiss was born on August 20, 1864 in Port Hope, Huron county, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herman W. Graunstadt, who had settled in that county and saw it developed from a wilderness into a rich agricultural section. Together they labored industriously in building a fine home, only to see it wiped out in the fire of 1881 which swept Huron and two other counties, taking many lives.

The family then settled in Mackinac county.

Mrs. Purkiss was a member of a family of 10 children was married to Mr. Purkiss on June 6, 1884 and they lived in Oscoda, Alpena, Lexington, and Cheboygan, where Mr. Purkiss owned and operated a meat market. The family later moved to flint, where he was employed in a market. After his health began to fail the couple came to Owosso to live with their youngest son Otto and Mr. Purkiss died on May 26, 1931.

Mrs. Purkiss continued to make her home here until august 18, 1936, when she went to the home of her son, Theodore, in Flint. This was soon after the death of her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Julia Purkiss, and it is believed that the shock of her death hastened the death of the elder Mrs. Purkiss.

Mrs. Purkiss was a devout Christian, devoted to her family, and a great lover of flowers. She was a member of the First methodist church.

Surviving her are four children: Mrs. C. O. Brosius, of Chicago; Theodore Purkiss, of Flint; Guy Purkiss, of Detroit, and Otto Purkiss of Owosso. Her sister's brother, the Rev. Frank Leonard, will be remembered by many here as well as in Corunna. She had many friends in Flint, Owosso and New Haven who will mourn her loss.

Birth	20 Aug 1864	Port Hope, Huron County, Michigan
Census (family)	13 Jun 1900	Cheboygan, Cheboygan County, Michigan - James Purkiss
Census (family)	24 Apr 1910	Alpena, Alpena County, Michigan - James Purkiss
Death	10 Dec 1936	Flint, Genesee County, Michigan
Burial		Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan

Spouse	James Purkiss (1863 - 1931)
Child	Pearl Purkiss (1886 - )
Child	Theadore James Purkiss (1888 - 1945)

Notes