Mark Purves, 60, of Beanson
On Tuesday, May 28, 1996, Mark Purvcs passed away at his home in Bezanson at the
age of 60 years.
Mark was horn on June 6, 1935 at the home of his parents, William
and Sarah Purves, delivered by neighbor Mrs. George Brown and her daughter
Violet. He attended East Kleskun School for elementary schooling before moving
to Edmonton with his parents where he continued his education. Mark's first job
was at Municipal Airport in Edmonton where he worked for a short time before
beginning his lifelong career of pipeline welding, apprenticing with his brother
Bob at the age of 18. Mark continued welding until recently when ill health
forced him to retire, but he continued to weld for family and friends.
On April 5, 1969, Mark married Judy Ford of the Bezanson district,
they raised three children: Michele, Julie and Jordy on their farm in Bezanson,
Mark was always happiest when he was making people laugh and would go to any
length to make that happen, even to performing his living chair trick at the
risk of breaking his back. He loved to entertain, telling, jokes and acting in
skits on numerous occasions. He loved to be around people and visited
constantly.
Mark loved horses and spent many happy hours taking the kids for
cutter rides through the snow in the winter.
Mark leaves to mourn: his wife Judy, daughters: Michele (Rick)
Dedora of Zama, Julie of Edmonton, Jordy at home, granddaughter Royal,
mother-in-law Julia Siebert of Bezanson, brothers; Bill (Anna) Purves of Hythe,
Robert (Effie) of Edmonton, sister: Nan Fraser of Sexsmith. step father Robert
Fleck of Prince George, B.C. as well as numerous nieces. nephews, family and
friends.
Mark was predeceased by an infant son in 1970, his parents and
brothers John, James, George and Henry.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 1, 1996 at 11 a.m.
from Grande Prairie Funeral Chapel, 10005-107 Ave., Grande Prairie with Rev.
Mike McWhinnic officiating.
Cremation will follow with interment of ashes to take place in Glen
Leslie cemetery, at a later date.
Memorial donations to the Alberta Heart Foundation would be greatly
appreciated by the family.
OLIVER'S GRANDE PRAIRIE FUNERAL CHAPEL
10005-107 Ave., Grande Prairie
Telephone 532-2929
"Dedicated Service Since 1915"
CLIPPED FROM - The Daily Herald-Tribune, Grande
Prairie, Alberta, Canada, 30 May 1996, Thu - Page 5 |
John Purvis of Grande Prairie, member of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment as a
Lance Corporal during the Second World War, Purves was killed in action on the
16th December 1943, he is buried in the Moro River War Cemetery, Italy. On
January 1944 the Canadian Corps selected the site of the Moro River War
Cemetery with the intension that it would contain the graves of those
who died in the Ortona battle. The Battle of Ortona saw some of the bitterest
and fiercest fighting of the Second World War. The fighting was house to house
literally - the Canadians blasted their way through walls to get from building
to building. The battle continued over Christmas Day, 1943 but three days later
the Germans withdrew. Today, there are 1,615 graves in the cemetery, of which
over 50 are unidentified and 1,375 are Canadian. John was the son of William and
Sarah Purvis; he was 22 years old. 
