Bill J. "Coach" Purser

Bill J. "Coach" Purser

San Angelo

Coach Billy Joe "Bill" Purser gently passed from this life to the next Wednesday, March 16, 2016. He was born to Albert and Faye Lynch Purser Dec. 26, 1923. He grew up in Trent, where the family farmed.

After graduating from Trent High School, Bill worked on the farm until 1944 when he joined the Navy. He was in the Armed Guard in the Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged in December of 1945. When he returned home, Tonto Coleman recruited him to play football for ACC where he completed his bachelor's. He was Captain of the team in 1948. Later, he earned his master's at North Texas State.

His illustrious coaching career began at Llano high school where he led the undefeated Yellow Jackets to a District Championship for the first time in school history. His next coaching job was in Lamesa, then San Angelo High School and San Angelo Central, where he coached until 1960. While in San Angelo he founded the San Angelo Relays. In the fall of 1960, he entered the college ranks at Howard Payne in Brownwood. Then he moved on to Texas A&I in Kingsville, leading them to a National Championship in 1964. He returned to Howard Payne for three years and finally came home to San Angelo in 1967, ending his coaching career at ASU. He established and directed the Driver's Education program for the SAISD, retiring in 1987. After he retired, he worked for several years for FEMA.

During Purser's first assignment in San Angelo, he met and married the love of his life Barbara Filleman. They were members of several dance clubs and were the envy of other dancers. They had a wonderful life together and thoroughly enjoyed their retirement, playing golf and spending time at their place on Dove Creek working, fishing, and enjoying each other. Barbara died Sept. 1, 1999.

A few years later he married Pat Raedel, a "growing-up" friend from Trent. She died in February 2013.

Coach Purser was not just a coach. He was a mentor and friend. He left an amazing legacy in the hearts of those he touched. A gifted story-teller, he had a story for every occasion, leaving those around him with delightful memories.

He is survived by his son Don and wife Connie of Fulshear; grandchildren Dawn and her husband Jeff Stewart of Santa Monica, California and Toby of Los Angeles, California; step-sons Gary and his wife Heather Hamner of Abilene and Ted and his wife Melissa Raedel and son Hunter of Wiscasset, Maine; and his brother-in-law Steve and his wife Julie Filleman of Lago Vista.

The family gives their heartfelt thanks to Buddy Peel, who was his Track Team Manager in 1957 and 1958. He kept up with Bill and Barbara through the years. When Barbara died she asked Buddy to take care of Coach. He and his wife Sylvia honored her request these sixteen years. The family also wants to thank his loving caregiver Milessa Murtishaw as well as Gabriel and Janie Rangel, Wylie and Billie Gober, neighbors and many others too numerous to name who were attentive and caring, especially in his later years.

Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 20 at Harper Funeral Home. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Harper Funeral Home, with Darrell Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to share condolences for Bill Purser at harper-funeralhome.com.