Dates
Lela Ann Lewis Purkaple, 91, of San Angelo, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 13, 2024 after a lengthy illness. She was a resident of Buckner Retirement Center in San Angelo, TX.
Lela was born October 7, 1932 in Eldorado, Arkansas, the only child of Dixon Howell and Clady Shurden Lewis. She accepted Jesus as her savior in Denver City, TX at the age of 9. She met Jerry Purkaple in Notrees, TX, where both families lived in the Shell Oil Camp. She graduated from Odessa High School in 1950 and attended Odessa College. Lela and Jerry were engaged in February 1951 and were married at the First Baptist Church Notrees, TX on September 16, 1951.
Fulfilling a promise to her father to get her college degree, she graduated from Texas Tech and became a schoolteacher. In addition to being a loving mother of Jerry Dixon, Janan, and Laurie, Lela was a supportive minister’s wife, following him to Utah, California, Texas, and Arizona. In Arizona, she and Jerry served as home missionaries to the Navajo’s. Lela was an accomplished musician, Sunday School teacher of all ages, and served in other areas of ministry wherever she was needed.
Lela was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Purkaple, and is survived by her son, Jerry Dixon Purkaple and wife Gail of Anna, Texas, daughters Janan Alford and husband Ron of Broomfield, CO, and Laurie Hirschfeld and husband Dennis of Boerne, TX, 11 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.
The family is grateful for the compassionate care Lela received from the staff of Baptist Retirement Center community and Hospice of San Angelo. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to Baptist Retirement Community PO Box 5661 San Angelo, Texas 76902; Hospice of San Angelo (www.westtexasrehab.org/donation/); or a charity of your choice.