Gerald Purviance

Gerald Raymond (Jerry) Purviance was born on May 14th 1951 in Salina, Kansas to Ethel Mae (Lewis) Purviance and Harold Raymond Purviance. Jerry was raised in Tucson Arizona along with his older brother Chris and his younger siblings Mike, Greg and Tina. He served in the U.S. Army being stationed in Germany and was Honorably Discharged in 1971. He married Deborah Sue Doty shortly after returning home to Tucson. He Moved along with his beloved wife and two young children to Miami Arizona in 1979 where he worked at the Rod Plant from 1981 until his retirement in June of 2014. Jerry and Debbie adopted Bianca in April. 2010. He was a dedicated Christian man who attended Word of Life Assembly of God for 38 years. He served as a Sunday school teacher Deacon and Royal Ranger commander. His life can be summed up best by Mathew 22:37 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as yourself”. Jerry loved to make people laugh and to share with them how much God loved them. I once heard him say, "If he could be a good man of God, a good husband, and a good father he would be a success". Well let me say he has been all those things and more. He has set a Godly foundation for not just me and my sisters, but for many others as he became a father to the fatherless. Everything good in me as a man, a husband, and a father is because of him. ?How blessed beyond words that God would give me the honor of being the son of Gerald Raymond Purviance. What would my Dad say at this point? "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day". 2 Timothy 4:7 Jerry leaves behind his wife, three children and 4 grandchildren as well as countless people whom have been forever changed by his presence in their lives. He was preceded in death by his mother and father. A memorial service will be held January 14th at 11am at Word Of Life Assembly of God, 927 Live Oak Miami AZ 85539