PURNIE ALLENE DEMPSEY, 88, returned to her home of Lamar County for just a few days before leaving for her eternal home on Friday March 21, 2014 at Brentwood Terrace. Starrett Funeral Home will conduct graveside rites at 2:00 p.m. Sunday March 23, 2014 at Long Cemetery, with Rev. Fred Fangio officiating.

Purnie was born October 25, 1925 in Powderly, a daughter of Lee H. and Oma Rose Saffell. She attended Powderly schools, and was of the Baptist faith. She spent her life professionally as a cook, then after retirement enjoyed serving and participating in Senior Centers, especially during the years she spent in Snyder, Texas, when she was a member of the Snyder Senior Center Kitchen Band.

She married Loyed Boyed Dempsey on October 10, 1942, just prior to his entering the military during World War II. They enjoyed fifty-eight years of marriage until his death on January 30, 2000.

In addition to her husband she was preceded in death by a brother, Houston Saffell, and a sister, Janet Hall.

Purnie is survived by three sons, Loyed Dempsey, of Houston, Billy Dempsey, of Pasadena, and Dwight Dempsey, of Texas City; four grandchildren; two sisters, Vivian Cochran, of Snyder and Wanda Tubb, of Farmington, New Mexico; a brother, W.R. Saffell, of Paris; and numerous nieces and nephews.