Billy Purcell

Funeral service to celebrate the life of Billy J. Purcell, 91, a resident of Davenport, will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 8, 2018 at the Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home, 614 N. Main Street, Davenport. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery, Davenport. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Billy passed away Sunday, March 4, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family.

Billy Jean Kastner was born on June 10, 1926 in Hot Springs, Arkansas, a daughter of Fred and Jo Etta (Avant) Kastner. She was united in marriage to Joseph Michael Purcell on December 31, 1944 in Arizona.

During World War II, Billy had been a switchboard operator in California. She was proud to have been a crossing guard at the same corner at 4th and Howell Streets in Davenport for over 38 years! She enjoyed her time crossing the students of Monroe Elementary and Smart Intermediate Schools.

Billy was the matriarch at Sovereign Grace Missionary Baptist Church having been a member for over 30 years.

Billy cherished her family and was known for family dinners that included bean tostadas, pecan pie, and banana pudding. She also loved to eat fish prepared by her grandson, Corey. Billy loved anything Native American or Southwestern décor. She loved crafts, creating her own jewelry and hand painting figurines, personalizing them for her family and friends.

Survivors include her children: Mike (Linda) Purcell, Pleasant Valley, Connie (Rick) Harris, Davenport, Tammy (Charles) Ridenour, Buffalo, and Billie Jo Law, Davenport; a daughter-in-law, Janice Purcell, Davenport, grandchildren: Joel (Amy) Purcell, Corey (Tammy) Purcell, Wendy (Darin) Wall, Randy (Kelly) Bishop, Bobi (Gary) Carson, Kim (Doug) Buchanan, Chico (Lisa) Harris, Josh Purcell, Nichole (Mike King) McFadden, Lanie (Joe) Erickson, Shane Law, Randi (Rob) Pinnegar, and Brianna Kenney; great-grandchildren: Colin (London) Purcell, Zoe Purcell, Ashley (Brett) Kessler, Tyler Purcell, Hannah Bishop, Sydney Wall, Cassidy Wall, Holli Carson, Zachary Carson, Shelbi Buchanan, Bridget Tanner, Dustin Harris, Caitlyn Harris, Kayla Teel Triston Teel, Shelby Erickson, Jaeger Erickson, Jadyn Erickson, Jacalynn Kenney, Mackenzie Pinnegar, Morgan Pinnegar, Samuel Kenney, and Zakkary Kenney; a great-great-grandson, Kyvin Tanner, a brother, Charles (Trula) Kastner, Oklahoma, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death her son Shawn Purcell, her former husband, Joseph “Mickey” Purcell, great-grandsons, Trey Teel and Trey Purcell, her parents, and a brother, Fred Kastner, Jr.

The Purcell family would like to thank the nurses and staff at Davenport Lutheran Home, Genesis East, and Hospice Compassus for all the compassionate and loving care they shared with Billy.