Mrs. James Purkey died at her home near Cave Springs, Ark., Monday, December 2, and her body was brought to Wilmore where funeral services were conducted Friday afternoon at the Methodist Church with Rev. V. O. Horney in charge.Mrs. Ferrel Guizlo and Mrs. Martha Zerby of Coldwater sang.
Burial was in the Crown Hill cemetery at Coldwater.
Emma Katherine Nickelson was born near Coldwater, Kan., on April 10, 1893, and departed this life on Monday, December 2, 1935, at the age of 42 years, 7 months and 22 days. She had a stroke about two weeks ago and never fully recovered.
At the age of 17, she united with the Methodist Church at the Bethel school house and all through the years she had an abiding faith in her savior.
At the age of 18 she entered the Mount Carney Academy of Wichita from which she received her teachers certificate. After receiving her degree she fully taught three terms of school in Comanche County.
At the age of 22, on April 7, 1915, she was united in marriage with James C. Purkey of Sedgwick, Kans. For about a year they made their home in this county and then moved to Sedgwick, Kan., where they lived for 20 years. On February 22, 1935, they moved with their family to a farm near Cave Springs, Ark., where they were living at the time of her departure.
To this union seven children were born, as follows: John Purkey of Belle Plains, Kan.; Chester Purkey of Ashland; Harold, Lyle, Louise, Marjorie and Alma Purkey of Cave Springs, Ark. She leaves to mourn her passing her husband and helpmate, James C. Purkey of Cave Springs; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carsten Nickelson of Wilmore; three sisters Mrs. W. L. House of Belle Plaine; Anna and Mary Nickelson of Wilmore; four brothers, F. W. Nickelson and Charlie Nickelson of Wilmore; Frank Nickelson of Freedom, Okla.; and John Nickelson of Grand Junction, Colo., and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was a faithful wife and a loving mother and daughter, having spent her life in the service of her family. She will be missed, but the good influence of her life will live on thru the years.
Also see:
Carsten Nickelson, father of Emma Katherine Nickelson.
Jimmie, Chester & Harold Purkey.
"A Strange Coincidence in the Purkey Family", The Wilmore News, 27 June 1947.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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