Obituary of Thomas Sydney Purkess

PURKESS: Thomas Sydney of Brandon, Manitoba, husband of the late Edith Purkess, passed away peacefully May 17, 2014 at the Assiniboine Centre in Brandon, Manitoba. Tom was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 23, 1927 to Herbert and Margaret Purkess - part of a family that included Tom and five sisters. Attending Southfield school and later helping with the family farm in the Southfield District south of Austin, Manitoba, Tom moved to Brandon with his mother in 1959. Tom began his career with the Brandon Research Centre where he would spend the next 29 years. Tom was well known for his expertise in working with Barley varieties and a mainstay of the "Barley Crew" at the Experimental Farm. Tom married Edith McGregor January 25, 1985 and they enjoyed over 26 years of happiness together. Edith and Tom loved to travel, and visited many places including Alaska, Florida, Australia, New Zealand, and Hawaii along with many winters spent at Magic Valley, Texas, and summers at Elgin and Lake Metigoshe campgrounds. They moved to Lions Manor in 1999, and spent many happy years enjoying the social activities of the Manor, particularly the many card game evenings. Tom was very active and bowled, golfed, and played floor shuffleboard for many years along with his daily ritual five mile walk rain or shine. Tom and Edith loved to play cards - 500, crib, whist or any other card game. They also loved to dance, and Edith and Tom would head out to any little town in western Manitoba where the country band, The Fugitives, were playing that night. Tom and Edith were honored to have The Fugitives play at their 20th wedding anniversary at the Central Community Centre, where they were very active members. Tom was predeceased by his wife Edith in 2011, and his parents Herbert and Margaret Purkess. Also predeceased by four sisters and brothers-in-law Margaret (Hugh) Palen, Annie (Tom) Hyde, Edna (Count) Sfreddo, Ina (Archie) Fagg, brothers-in-law Harold Hodgins and John Geiger, nephews Donald Hyde and Ronald Geiger and niece Lois Bourassa. Lovingly remembered and missed by stepsons Keith (Dilys), George (Darlene), Richard, Glenn (Arlene), Brian and stepdaughter Laurie, 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren who will all miss Grandpa Tom, along with his sister Mabel Hodgins and many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. A graveside memorial service was held on May 21, 2014 with interment at the Brandon Cemetery. A time of sharing memories followed at the George Brockie Fellowship Centre. Donations in memory of Tom may be directed to the Manitoba Lung Association, Brandon Regional Health Centre Foundation, or a charity of your choice.