Introduction
The descendants of Marion and Molly Gertrude (Archer) Ferrell have lost another relative. Mary Lois Ferrell Purkey, my first cousin, born on August 17, 1940, passed on to her heavenly home on August 1, 2024.
This article, the 128th in the family and 105th in the heritage topic sections, remembers and honors Cousin Lois. Also, archived articles are referenced that mention Cousin Lois and her family. Further, memories from Cousin Lois' visitation and funeral service are recalled. The conclusion focuses on our visit to the homeplace after the memorial service, and it asks a question about the timing of our home air conditioning problem.
Cousin Lois enjoyed humor. I believe that she would find humor in the timing of her funeral service, our home air conditioning system replacement, and what would have been her 84th birthday. Meaning no disrespect, I hope that the concluding humor helps family members well remember Cousin Lois and enjoy a laugh. I'm sure that Cousin Lois will enjoy the humor, once I join her and tell her in heaven.
Remembering and Honoring Cousin Lois
Cousin Lois was nineteen years and eleven months older than me. She always seemed closer to my age. Lois “aged young,” in that she retained her youthful energy, activity, and mental sharpness as she aged. Her husband, Jack Purkey, J.D. (1/29/1936 – 5/7/2021), did as well. I hope that I am doing likewise.
Family reunions and occasional visits were how I got to know Cousin Lois and her family. Her husband and she were grade school and high school teachers. As educators, they were well-versed and interested in several topics. They educated themselves and others. Cousin Lois' inquisitive mind asked interesting questions and guided conversations along intriguing topics. Her knowledge of family heritage will be missed. I hope that someone, or she, wrote down what she remembered.
Over the decades, I regret that I allowed time, travel, location, and distance to preclude more frequent face-to-face visits with Cousin Lois and her family. Since my early retirement in May 2022, I have had more time.
As the eldest child of her parents, James William “Bill” Ferrell (8/20/1914 – 6/21/1999) and Bobbie (Ward) Ferrell (10/4/1915 – 9/28/2006), Cousin Lois outlived her three younger siblings. They were Dorothy Florence Ferrell Moore (3/12/1942 – 2/15/1992), Larry Denver Ferrell (4/19/1948 – 10/7/2006), and Retha Anne Ferrell (9/7/1959 – 4/27/2017).
A few years ago, I started calling Cousin Lois on her birthday and, occasionally, around holidays. We would talk a good while about current life, family, family heritage, and similar topics. Often, Cousin Lois would need to end the call, because a family member, friend, or neighbor had come by to see her.
On Sunday, June 9, I learned that Cousin Lois had contracted a terminal illness and was expected to live only a few more months. (I published the June 9 article before I found out.) Being stunned describes well my reaction to the news. Cousin Lois had been enjoying good health.
The next day, I called and spoke with Cousin Lois. In her matter-of-fact manner, she shared how the illness had come upon her and the prognosis. Cousin Lois said that, at 83, she had lived a good life and that she was ready to go. She could still manage well enough at home and travel, if someone drove her. Cousin Lois hoped to be able to attend the impromptu reunion on Saturday, June 15, that a niece and I had planned. (The 6/20/2024 article is about that reunion. The conclusion mentions Cousin Lois, not by name, and offers a written prayer for her family and her.)
Cousin Lois and I spoke until she started to become tired. Near the end of the conversation, she said that, as a Christian, she was looking forward to meeting her Savior. Ending the conversation, we exchanged our love for each other.
Archived Articles that Mention Cousin Lois and Her Family
At least five previous articles mention Cousin Lois and her family. They are as follows:
The 6/14/2017 article is about my Mother's Day hike on House Mountain. I dedicated the hike to my mother, my uncle Bobby, my mother-in-law, and my first cousin, Retha, who had recently passed away. The next day, Cousin Lois commented on the article. It was her first comment on any article on this website. I replied the same day.
The 7/7/2019 article includes a photograph of my father, four of his five brothers, and his two sisters. Uncle Bill is mentioned. Later that evening, Cousin Lois entered a complimentary comment about the article. Seven days later, I replied to her comment, interjecting some humor.
The 8/17/2019 article includes a section about Cousin Lois turning 79 that day. I remember calling her later that day and wishing her a happy birthday.
The 5/8/2021 article, “Tribute to a Cousin's Husband,” is about Cousin Lois' husband, Jack, who had passed away the day before. His tribute is in the section “The Bad Swallowed Up in Victory.”
The 11/21/2021 article, while predominately political, mentions positively Cousin Lois' father, my uncle, Bill Ferrell. Uncle Bill's political interests and achievements inspired Cousin Lois' service in the Hawkins County Republican Party.
Visitation and Funeral on 8/10/2024
Cousin Lois' obituary is “Mary Lois Purkey (August 17, 1940 - August 1, 2024),” Christian-Sells Funeral Home. The tribute video, just under eight minutes long, includes several good photographs. On Saturday, August 10, visitation was from 12 to 2 PM. The memorial service started at 2 PM.
My wife and I arrived at the funeral home about 1:30 PM. Family reunions should not occur only at funerals. We enjoyed, however, seeing Denise—the daughter of cousin Lois and husband, Jack—and her family. We saw my older first cousin, Lester. Furthermore, we conversed quite a while with my first cousin, Debbie, her husband, and their oldest daughter. It was good to see my third cousin, Rhonda, whom I don't recall seeing since high school. We met other and younger family members. Numerous family friends were in attendance.
The memorial service honored Cousin Lois and her family. The theme focused on the life and legacy of a fine Christian lady. The everlasting assurance was that Cousin Lois had passed on to her heavenly home, where she was reunited with many family members, who also knew the Lord as Savior.
Conclusion
After the funeral service and conversations with family were ended, my wife and I drove to the homeplace, to change clothes and check on the house and property.
I took the following photograph at 3:48 PM. The view looks east. The grapevine, mentioned in the first article from June 8, is still alive. I still need to build a new trellis and clip off the dead branches. That, Lord willing, is my plan for this fall.
I took the following photograph a few seconds later. The view looks northeast.
That's my “long-suffering” wife, Mrs. Appalachian Irishman, standing beside my 2006 Frontier. The house, yard, and property looked about the same. Aside from the grapevine, this fall, I plan, Lord willing, to do quite a bit more tree trimming and bush clipping.
So, how are Cousin Lois' memorial service, our home air conditioning problem, and what would have been her 84th birthday connected? I'm glad that you asked. I look forward to sharing this story with Cousin Lois, once I join her in heaven.
On Saturday, August 10, I had set our home air conditioner up, not to cool as much, while we were attending Cousin Lois' visitation and funeral. Once back home, I set it back to 78 degrees Fahrenheit. It took longer to cool, but it did. The next day, the unit would not cool at all. Warm outdoor air blew through the vents.
My wife and I “enjoyed” a week without air conditioning. She had returned to work, after summer break, on August 5. Through the day, she enjoyed the air-conditioned school building. Eleven screened windows were open, and four ceiling fans were running. Daytime highs were in the upper 80s to mid 90s. The indoor temperature was fine each morning, until about 10:30 AM. By late afternoon and into the evening, indoor temperatures reached into the mid to upper 80s. I recalled growing up without air conditioning. The experience was a warm and sweaty reminder of my youth. Being accustomed to air conditioning makes you soft. I had to and did toughen up! My “long-suffering” wife endured the heat without too much complaint.
Being understandably very busy, the service technicians were able to install a new air conditioning unit on Saturday, August 17. That would have been Cousin Lois' 84th birthday.
Cousin Lois enjoyed good humor. Dear Cousin Lois, our home air conditioning unit expired the day after your visitation and memorial service, and the new unit was installed on your birthday! What an amazing coincidence! From your heavenly home, did you have something to do with the planning of that coincidence? I'm just kidding, 'cuz! I love you, and I look forward to seeing you again, once I join you at our everlasting home!
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