Ella Mae Purdy

Ella Mae Purdy, 78, a longtime resident of Gautier, MS, passed away on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 surrounded by her family and friends. Ella Mae, born in Litchfield, IL, was the oldest of seven children. She and Billie lived in Illinois until she was 40. In 1976, they moved to Gautier, MS for warmer climates. She was a devoted wife and an amazing mother. She worked for NACO Thousand Trails for many years as a bill collector and later in the vault. Ella was a talented cook and baker, and with her entrepreneurial spirit she opened and ran a successful cheesecake business that served the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She loved her pets like her children, and she always made you feel welcome in her home, sitting around the kitchen table with a good cup of coffee and something to eat. Ella Mae, you are gone too soon from the lives of your family and friends, but you leave behind your gifts of treasured memories, love and the special care you gave everyone. You will be missed. Ella Mae is preceded in death by her parents, C. Herman and Letizia Langley; her sister, Alice Demaree; and her brothers, Finis Langley and Herman Langley. She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Billie Gene Purdy: her daughters, Rockelle (Ron) Magruder and Kristian (Byron) Towles; her brothers, Felix (Debbie) Langley and Patrick (Wanda) Langley; and her sister, Laura Langley. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services will be held at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 12:00 noon. Friends may visit from 10:00 am until service time. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.