Shirley Purvis

Shirley Martin Purvis passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 25, 2024 at her daughter's home at the age of 89.
Shirley was born September 22, 1934 in Louisville, Kentucky to Willard Harold Martin and Olive "Ollie" Mae Stacy Martin. She had one older brother, Willard "Bill" Martin Jr. She attended DuPont Manual High School and after graduation she worked as a telephone operator with her best friend, Jackie. Shirley and Jackie loved working together and told stories for years to come about some of their "adventures" as telephone operators. After she hung up her operator headset, she began working as a receptionist for the Department of Kentucky Mental Health where she met the love of her life, Charles Donald Purvis.
Don and Shirley married on December 28, 1957 and Shirley happily became a stay at home mom, raising their two children Terri and Greg. Shirley was a "room mother" most of the elementary school years for her children and attended every sport or band activity imaginable to express her support and love to her children. After her children graduated, Shirley accepted a position as Administrative Assistant at the Louisville Apartment Association where she worked for over 20 years. She loved her job, especially getting to work beside one of her best friends, Gale.
Shirley and Don were two of the founding members of the Forest Hills Community of Christ Church. Until her passing, Shirley was the eldest and longest standing member of the congregation. Shirley loved her church, worshiping with church family and sharing delicious pot luck meals. She typed the church bulletin for many years as part of her dedicated service to the Lord.
In her spare time, Shirley loved traveling with Don and spending their winters in Fort Myers, Florida. She also enjoyed square dancing, bowling, and helping to create the oak ivy border for the Kentucky Oaks Lily Garland for over 20 years. She took great pleasure in drinking coffee with her friends and making homemade cookies, lemon bars and frosted brownies for her neighbors.
Shirley was blessed with two grandchildren, KC and Luke, who she loved beyond measure. And once again spent countless hours attending all of the school and sporting events possible to express her support and love for her grandchildren.
Shirley's outstanding traits include her beautiful crystal blue eyes, being "spunky and strong willed", her unwavering love for her family and her dedication to her Heavenly Father.
Shirley leaves behind her daughter Terri Purvis Bowles and her husband Troy; her son Dr. Gregory Purvis and his wife Kendra; and her grandchildren Lucas "Luke" Purvis and Kenneth Charles "KC" Purvis and his wife Claire who are expecting Shirley's first great grandchild who she was looking so forward to meeting. She also leaves behind her two nephews: Dennis Martin and his wife Pam; and Don Cassady and his wife Carol.
Shirley's visitation will be held on Saturday, June 1st from 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. followed by her Celebration of
Life beginning at 1:00 p.m. at:
Forest Hills Community of Christ Church 2401 Merriwood Drive
Jeffersontown, Kentucky 40299
Expressions of Sympathy can be made to Hosparus of Louisville
(A link for the Hosparus website is available on the Highlands Funeral Home website: www.highlandsfuneralhome.com)