Shirley J. Purse of Seaford passed away peacefully on Feb. 21, 2021 at Christiana Hospital in Newark after complications of a fall. She was preceded in death by her parents, Carlton W. Jones, Sr. and Nellie Massey Jones, and her husband of 62 years, John H. Purse, Jr.
Shirley graduated from Seaford Senior High School and Goldey Beacom College where she studied Business. After graduation, she worked at Fabrics and Finishes and the E.I. Dupont Company in Wilmington. She and her husband moved to Seaford at which time she worked at E.I. DuPont Company in the supply division and later on in the personnel division at Fluor Daniel. While her children were young, she worked at West Seaford School as an assistant to the nurse and was the “Story Lady” that typed the stories as the kids told them.
As a retired couple, the Purses would go with friends each week to nursing homes and take their beloved golden retriever “Sonny” and other great dogs to visit the residents. Shirley would photograph the residents (at their request) with the pets. Then the next visit she would deliver a framed photo of their favorite visiting pet.
Mrs. Purse and her husband were members of St. Paul’s Church in Laurel. She was the Hospitality Coordinator there and she loved the job and the people very much. The Purses had two daughters; Lynne (John) Streeper and Terri (Armore) Rice. If you asked either of them, they had a son named “Sonny”, and it didn’t matter that he was a Golden Retriever, he was their son!
Mrs. Purse was the oldest of four children. Her family included her beloved brother Carlton Jones, Jr. (Jody), sister Nancy Warren (Jack), and Debbie Jones Howard (Mark), grandson Matthew Ryan Jones and great-grandson Jace Harlan Jones. She was blessed to add to her family when Lynne married John with a bonus granddaughter, Erin. Terri married Armore and he blessed her with three more bonus grandchildren Devon Budd (Jay), Sarah Hudson (Ben) and Matt Rice. She loved the full house on holidays. As the bonus grandchildren embraced “Mimi” so did four bonus great-grandchildren, Alayna Morris and Ryder Budd (Devon) and Amaya and Gabe Hudson (Sarah) and she would always want to include Amaya’s love Mason. They were all so very good to their “Mimi” and she knew she was so loved. She was blessed with so many life long friends and family that were always calling to check on her, calling to say “hi” or dropping off a book to read. Thank you to everyone who cared for her.
In light of the ongoing pandemic, we have chosen to delay her celebration of life until June 12 at 3 p.m. at St. Paul’s Church in the outdoor area. If inclement weather should arise, an alternate rain date will be scheduled for June 13, at 2 p.m. at the church. Donations have been requested by the family to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Laurel. They have done so many great things for our community with very little fanfare or acknowledgement by choice, which is the true spirit of a loving heart.