Joe pURDY Nix

Nix, Joe Purdy
84, of Chandler, AZ passed away on January 13, 2015. Born in Boulder, CO 6/15/30, he graduated from Boulder High School in 1947, played Football and Baseball at Colorado University before playing briefly for the Philadelphia Philly's professional baseball organization in 1951. Joe served in the US Army from 1954-57 and began his educator's career in Arizona in 1958. He taught and coached at Scottsdale, Arcadia and Chandler High Schools before being hired at Mesa Community College in 1966 where he established the wrestling program to national prominence before retiring from education in 1985. Joe was a member and deacon at Chandler Christian Church, inducted into the National Junior College Wrestling Hall of Fame and MCC's coaching Hall of Fame. Joe was a fine carpenter and built every home his family ever lived in. Survived by wife Lora Hall of 65 years along with daughter Judy Allen and her husband Darius of Alamosa,CO, sons; Joe Jr and his wife Rosie of Sun Lakes, AZ, John and his wife Frances of Black Forrest, CO and Jack of Albuquerque, NM, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren and athletes and others he influenced over the years. Joe will be buried at his family ranch in Red Wing, Colorado on January 20th and his life will be celebrated with testimony and remembrance at Chandler Christian Church in February on a date to be determined. Contributions to either Alzheimer's Association at alz.org or the ministry he helped start at the family ranch in Colorado to fatherless young men at nxranch.org