Gordon Cecil Purser

Gordon Cecil Purser went to sleep and joined the angels on Friday, November 7, 2014. Graveside services will be held at 1pm on Monday, November 10, at the Bellwood Memorial Park in Temple, TX. Dr. Tony Taylor will preside over services. Funeral services have been entrusted to Cozart Funeral Home in Normangee, TX.

Gordon Cecil Purser was born on July 7, 1933 to his parents Buford Cecil and Sally (Towles) Purser in Sheffield, AL. Gordon attended Temple High School in Temple, TX and joined the Navy June 1951 and was honorably discharged in June 1954. He was in Helicopter Squadron HU-1 and while serving in the Korean War received the Air Medal for rescuing a downed pilot behind enemy lines under fire.

After his return to Temple he married the love of his life, Shirley Stefka on June 11 1955. They were blessed with two children, Gordon H. (Scooter) and Baby Renee who died at the age of three months.

Gordon received his BFA from the University of Texas in Austin, and following graduation worked for the Texas Dept. of Agriculture. Later he entered the civil service at Ft. Hood, Texas where he was assigned to Training Aids. He then transferred to the VA Medical Center in Temple where he worked for the Medical Media Service and retired after 30 years of Government service in 1994.

Following retirement he and Shirley built a home at Hilltop Lakes where they have had a busy but enjoyable life. While at hilltop Lakes Gordon has served as a Director and Past-President of the Volunteer Fire Department. While President of the Hilltop Lakes VFD they built the Ambulance Annex. He also served as a Director of the Hilltop Lakes Lions Club and was a member of the Rogers Prairie Masonic Lodge and the Hilltop Lakes Chapel.

Gordon was preceded in death by both parents Buford Purser and Sally Mangham; and a daughter Renee.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Shirley; a son, Gordon H. Purser and wife Jane; a granddaughter, Austin Tollette and her husband Michael; a grandson, Travis Purser; and two great granddaughters, Sophia and Madelyn.

In lieu of flowers please donate in memory of Gordon to any of your favorite charities. Here are some of Gordon’s, Hilltop Lakes VFD, P.O. Box 1474, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871; Hilltop Lakes Lions Club Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1802, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871; or Hilltop Lakes Chapel Foundation, P.O. Box 1143, Hilltop Lakes, TX 77871.