James Brady Purcell

James Brady Purcell

SALISBURY - James Brady Purcell, 90, of Salisbury, died Monday, April 6, 2009, at the N.C. State Veterans Nursing Home.

Born April 20, 1918, in Zanesville, Ohio, he was the son of the late Lawrence and Florence Moore Purcell. Mr. Purcell was educated in the Washington Court House, Ohio, schools, attended Ohio State University, the University of Florida at Gainesville, University of Tampa, Tampa, Fla., he received his Masters Degree in Psychology from Stanford University and attended the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

He was veteran of the U.S. Army, serving two enlistments; the first he was discharged as a Staff Sergeant and the second as a First Lieutenant during World War II.

Mr. Purcell was a College Professor, teaching at Catawba College, Gaston College, St. Petersburg College. He was also a guidance counselor at Tampa Bay, Fla., area schools.

He enjoyed wood carving and was a sculpting artist and an author.

Survivors include his children, Patrick James Purcell and wife Patricia of Crystal River, Fla., Winona Catherine Branciforte of Charlotte and Nancy Evelyn Hopp and husband John F. of Clearwater, Fla.; sister Jeanette Morris of St. Petersburg, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.

Service: Memorial service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the N.C. State Veterans Nursing Home.

Memorials: May be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Salisbury, 512 Klumac Road, Suite 3, Salisbury, NC 28144

Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Purcell Family. Online condolences may be sent at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.