Mary Eileen (McClurg) Purdom

Mary Eileen (McClurg) Purdom, born on April 25, 1940, in Jefferson, IA, passed away on January 23, 2021, in Springfield, MO. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobby Dean Purdom and is survived by her two daughters (Shari Reaves and Kathi Greene), her four grandchildren (Victoria Reaves, Alexandria Reaves, Emily Greene, and Jonathan Greene) and her three siblings (Janice Lalmond, Ralph McClurg, and Linda Gregersen). The family held a private ceremony at the Lee Cemetery near Verona, MO on January 29, 2021.
Mary was a lifelong educator. She graduated from Verona High School in 1958, and then earned her undergraduate degree and master’s degree from the University of Missouri. She married Bobby Dean Purdom on May 16, 1964, after meeting at university. They shared a love of education and the Lord. She began her teaching career in St. Charles, Missouri, teaching high school home economics. Over the years she moved to several different cities teaching elementary classes, junior high and high school home economics, and finally college level home economic courses at Drury University. She was a volunteer teacher at church her entire life. After her teaching career she worked for many years at Prudential Insurance.
In retirement, she focused her time and skills on continuing to educate both children and adults in different capacities. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and attended Sunset Church of Christ in Springfield, Missouri. For many years she coordinated the Ladies’ Day events at the church. It was her mission to give women of all ages an opportunity to learn and serve God. She also wanted to continue to reach children and help them learn about God. She was the Leadership Training for Christ Bulletin Board Team sponsor for many years at the Sunset church. It gave her great joy to see the dedication and creativity of her teams.
Mary was proud of her grandchildren and enjoyed taking them on day trips to famous Missouri landmarks and teaching them how to sew, cook, and create anything crafty. She loved watching them grow strong in the Lord and considered it a privilege to be a part of their lives.
Mary was passionate about charity work and giving back to her community and to those around her. She sponsored a young man in Africa during his high school and college years through Zambia Mission Fund, an organization dedicated to revealing Jesus through education, humanitarian service, and Christian leadership. She remained in contact with him and loved hearing about his academic progress and later his missionary work. In honor of Mary’s love for education and for God, the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to www.zambiamission.org or Zambia Mission Fund, PO BOX 3393, Abilene, Texas 79604.
Family and heritage were very important to Mary. She documented family connections through mementoes, photos and newspaper articles, chronicling her heritage back many generations. She was proud of where she came from and the family she leaves behind. It was her request to be buried in the Lee Cemetery where her husband (Bobby Purdom) and father and mother (Thaine and Ruth Jordan McClurg) are resting.
Mary, we love you and will always miss you. You were a fantastic sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and most of all friend to everyone you knew.