William R. Bill Purvis 87 of Memphis Missouri passed away Wednesday September 14 2011 at the Scotland County Care Center in Memphis.He was born November 10 1923 in Scotland County to Phillip A. and Alva L. Tippett Purvis. He attended country school through the eighth grade. Bill was the last of his eleven siblings to pass away.He married Dora Dean Penny on June 8 1946 and to this union four children were born. Dora passed away December 3 1969. He then married Verna L. Peck Howard on January 23 1971 in Memphis Missouri.He served as a tail gunner with the Army Air Corp during World War II in the South Pacific.Bill was a row crop and livestock farmer. He also operated a bulldozer and also worked at the family owned saw mill. In his later years he worked at the Memphis Recreation Center and performed countless handyman jobs for many people. Bill was a kind and generous father and stepfather and always treated people with the same respect as he would have wanted to be treated.He was a charter member of the Memphis V.F.W. Wallace W. Gillespie Memorial Post #4958 and a member of the First Baptist Church in Memphis.He is survived by his wife Verna of Memphis a daughter Phyllis Purvis of Columbia Missouri three sons: Larry Purvis and his wife Lenora of Columbia Missouri Richard Purvis and his wife Betty Jo of Sedalia Missouri Lynn Purvis Memphis Missouri three stepdaughters: Lea Ann Hughes and her husband Alan of Norman Oklahoma Debbie Shepherd of Marceline Missouri Annette Schwab of Smithville Missouri five stepsons: Stephen Howard of Katy Texas David Howard and his wife Debbie of Cherow Colorado Douglas Howard and his wife Becky of Abilene Texas Jon Howard and his wife Erica of Isle Wight England and Joe Howard of Branson Missouri. Other survivors include seven grandchildren: Gina Blakey Phillip Purvis Angie Purvis Jeff Purvis Chris Purvis Nathan Purvis and Augusta Purvis twenty-six step-grandchildren five great-grandchildren Tori Zachary and Emma Blakey and Noah and Isaac Purvis forty-one step-great grandchildren two great-great step-grandchildren many nieces nephews and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents his first wife four sisters: Mabel Purvis Mary Rossi Jessie Onken and Bette Hergenreader seven brothers: Joe Purvis Elmer Purvis Carl Purvis Charley Purvis Herbert Purvis Wayne Purvis and Hugh Franklin Purvis who died in infancy and two stepsons: Leland Howard and Michael Howard.Visitation will open after 10 A.M. at the Memphis Funeral Home on Friday September 16th with the family present to greet relatives and friends from 6 until 8 P.M. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 A.M. at the First Baptist Church in Memphis with Pastor Dan Hite officiating. Music will be provided by Mike and Pam Blaine. Burial will follow the service at Concord Cemetery in rural Scotland County. Casket bearers will be Chris Purvis Jeff Purvis Nathan Purvis Phillip Purvis Shawn Blakey and Lonnie Vance. Full military honors will be accorded by the Wallace W. Gillespie Memorial Post #4958. To honor Bills memory a memorial may be made for the Concord Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Memphis Funeral Home 378 South Market Street Memphis Missouri 63555. Condolences may be made to the Purvis family by logging on to mmphisfh@nemr.net. Arrangements are under the direction of Memphis Funeral Home.