George Watson Purvis

George Watson Purvis

Graveside Services for George Watson Purvis, 79, of West Monroe, LA, will be held 10:00 A.M., Thursday, May 30, 2019, at Roselawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Calhoun, LA, with Rev. Allen Stephens officiating under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA.

Mr. Purvis was born February 29, 1940, in Jackson, MS, and passed away May 27, 2019. He was a member of First Baptist Church in West Monroe and was retired from Union National Life Insurance.

George Watson Purvis grew up in Pearl, Mississippi, just around the corner from his future wife, Betty Moore Purvis. Even though lived very close to each other, they didn’t begin dating until after high school and married in August 1961. George and Betty have celebrated over 55 years of marriage, raised two children and have five grandchildren.

After high school, George attended Hinds Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi. He was a Golden Eagle as a student of Southern Miss but everyone knows that his true school love is for the Ole Miss Rebels.

George began his professional career as a general salesman for Union National Life Insurance Company in Mississippi, bringing him and his family to Louisiana and back to Mississippi, where he retired in 2005. Throughout his years with Union National he worked his way up to Vice President of Underwriting and was recognized on many occasions for his work by receiving numerous awards. George and Betty enjoyed many trips and friendships throughout his years with the company.

George was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He and Betty raised their children in a Christian home and provided them with love and support in everything. George was confident in his relationship with the Lord and he had no doubts of where he would spend eternity. He loved his friends and extended family members and enjoyed keeping in touch with many of them.

If you had the privilege of knowing George you knew his love for the Ole Miss Rebels. George, Betty, Ricky and Kelley spent many weekends as a family over the years traveling to Jackson and Oxford to cheer for his team and enjoy tailgating in The Grove with his sister, Patricia, and many other family and friends. He knew most anything you could ask about the Rebels no matter the sport. In the later years of his life, he kept up through radio and TV. Although his memory and communication began to fail him in recent years, he never seemed to forget to ask Betty to find the right channel.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Louvenia Purvis.

Survivors include his wife, Betty Moore Purvis; his son, Ricky Purvis and wife Jennifer; daughter, Kelley Purvis Sanguinetti and husband Andrew; five grandchildren, Ramsey and Ryley Grace Purvis, and William, Melissa and Benjamin Sanguinetti; his sister, Patricia Purvis Cooke; nephew, Doug Cooke and wife Kasey; nephew, David Sharp and wife Leigh; and numerous dear and lifelong friends who have called, visited and checked on George during recent years of his failing health.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in West Monroe, LA.

Memorials may be made to Heart of Hospice or to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home.