Lori Beth Purcell passed away peacefully among family and friends Jan. 3, 2019. She was 54.
Born in Freeport, TX on Nov. 23, 1964 to Robert and Judy Blunck, Lori spent most of her life in Brazoria County, eventually settling at her quiet, country home in Wild Peach, TX. Despite many challenges, she met the world with gratitude and unshakeable bravery. She never stopped smiling.
Lori lived a life full of love.
Lori loved her husband and soulmate Tim Purcell. Their storybook romance began as long–distance correspondence across three states and evolved into a lifetime of commitment, friendship and family. She loved reading and the pursuit of bettering herself.
She loved cooking, trying new recipes and entertaining guests. She loved her dirt–stained hands from planting flowers and listening to the birds singing in the garden. Cardinals were her favorite. She loved Blue Bell cookie dough ice cream and dark chocolate. She loved meaningful conversations with her friends and a little, white terrier named “Spirit”. Lori loved to be there for people when they needed her.
She loved art and music. She loved jazz and played in the Big Band at Brazosport College. She wrote songs and played Debussy from memory on an old Story and Clark Piano, filling her home with harmony and joy.
Lori loved teaching. She shared her love of music with many students of all ages.
She loved God and her church, Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian of Lake Jackson. She played piano in the praise band and at many retreats. She viewed her church family as her own brothers and sisters. Lori found much happiness in worship and prayer, but most of all community. After the loss of their child, she and Tim founded “Johnathan’s Ministry” to extend support and comfort to other grieving parents.
Above all else, Lori loved family. Her definition of family was one not burdened by the necessity of blood relation. She had many children, all of which she treated with the same acceptance, support and warm, loving kindness. She made us all feel that we always had a home to come back to regardless of where life led us.
Lori Purcell moved through the world with artistry and passion, much in the same way she sang and played piano. The song of her life will not be soon forgotten. It will be in the hearts and on the lips of all who knew her. We will hear it in the summer waves crashing against the Gulf Coast shoreline. Or in the sound of the wind urging the last leaves of fall from the trees. It will croon in the crackling of the family fireplace surrounded by loved ones on the coldest Christmas nights. Most acutely, we will hear it in the melody of the cardinal, somewhere high in a pecan tree on the first day of spring. As we continue this journey, her song will remind us that life is made better by singing and that she is still somewhere singing along with us.
A memorial service for Lori will be held at the Covenant Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Lake Jackson on Wednesday Jan. 9, 2019 at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers we ask that you make a donation to Johnathan’s Ministry, or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
Johnathan’s Ministry
http://cepclj.org/ministries/johnathan-s-ministry
Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
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