A funeral service for Betty Sue Purnell will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 31, 2021 in the Chapel of Downs Funeral Home in Marshall, Texas. A time for visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 p.m.. Mrs. Purnell passed away on October 28, 2021 in Marshall, Texas.

Betty Sue Purnell was born in Marshall, Texas on December 3, 1936. She was preceded in death by her mom and dad Ernest and Flora Thompson, her sister Flora Jean Morton, her brother Kenneth Morgan Thompson, her son John Morgan Purnell, and her husband of sixty-six years, John Otto Purnell.

She is survived by her son Albert Purnell and his wife, Linda Purnell, as well as her other daughter-in-law, Janet Purnell. She is also survived by her two granddaughters, Kim Jones and Carolyn Purnell, and Carolyn's husband Diffan Norman. Betty also had two great grandchildren: Bryar Jones and Kaelie Hestand. Kaelie and her husband Garrett have two children, Kash Morgan and Hazel Ann Hestand.

Betty is also survived by one sister and brother-in-law, Ernestine and Bobby Rice; one brother and sister-in law, Ray and Sharon Thompson; one sister-in-law, Carolyn Thompson; and their families.

A member of Pope City Baptist Church for more than fifty years, Betty was presently attending River Crossing Cowboy Church. She was a teacher who taught in the Marshall public school system before retiring in May 1999.

Betty was a dedicated wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and teacher. She loved her family and friends, who helped her through many difficult times in her life. If she could leave us with one message today, it would be "love your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. God loves each of you the same way—and much, much more."