Billie Pursley

PURSLEY, Billie Barron died Feb. 6, 2011, at the age of 93, under the kind care of The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast. Billie is preceded in death by husband Walter, who died in 2005. She is survived by 2 daughters, Linda Leckey of Tampa, Tricia Pursley, Pass-A-Grille, and a son Walter Pursley Jr., Anna Maria Island; grandchildren Lillie McPherson, Central, SC, Leah Armstrong, Tampa, Lila Miller, New York City, and Charlie Pursley, Anna Maria Island; great-grandchildren PJ and Sophie McPherson and Andrew Armstrong; great-grandson Thomas Hendry Armstrong is expected to arrive in March. Billie was born in Ft. Myers, but moved to raise her family in St. Petersburg in the early 1940s. She attended the University of Florida and taught school in a one room school house on Sanibel Island at a time when the island was accessible only by ferry. Billie loved to travel and had fabulous trips to China, South America, Europe and Alaska, though her favorite was Great Britain. For many years with husband Walt, she spent 6 months of the year in North Wales. She enjoyed a second home in Blowing Rock, NC. Her final years were spent at College Harbor Retirement Community. She loved people, poetry, bridge and dark chocolate. She adored entertaining family and friends and did so with charm and in grand style. She was funny, quippy and quick-witted but never, ever, mean spirited. She enjoyed people's differences and welcomed diversity. She was courageous in the face of illness. She adapted to all of her life's hardships with grace and gusto. Her family attributes her long life to her bright spirit, flexible point of view and firm faith in God. Billie will be buried alongside Walter at the Frierson-Hendry Cemetery in Ft. Myers, Pursley's family cemetery. Memorial contributions to The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast will be greatly appreciated.