Ileen Purcell

Ileen May Purcell, 88, died Wednesday December 27, 2017, in South Jordan, Utah. Born April 12, 1929, in Oakley, Idaho, to Richard Golden and Melba Farnsworth May, Ileen spent her early childhood in both Idaho and Utah. She graduated from Blackfoot High School in 1947. Following graduation, Ileen attended college at Utah State Agricultural College in Logan (Utah State University), Utah, where she met her future husband Rex Beach Purcell (1927-2003). They were married on August 10, 1949, in the LDS Temple in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Ileen’s heart and soul were devoted to her husband and family. She had an exceptional talent of creating a beautiful, clean and loving home wherever they lived. Throughout her married life, Ileen lived in Idaho Falls, Nebraska, Oregon, Thailand and Las Vegas. Following the death of her husband, Ileen later moved to Utah, so she could be close to those who meant everything—her family. Ileen’s greatest joy was that of being a loving wife, mother, musician, homemaker and an extraordinarily accomplished seamstress. Hardly a day passed that didn’t find Ileen in the kitchen making homemade bread, meals, canning or hand-dipping chocolates at Christmas time. When she wasn’t in the kitchen, Ileen was at the sewing machine making everything from clothes to window curtains and reupholstering furniture. As long as she was with her family, Ileen was content doing anything. She also spent many years teaching piano. Ileen was a life-long active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in many capacities within the Relief Society and Primary. Along with her husband, Ileen served an LDS mission in Guadalajara, Mexico and later as an ordinance worker in the Idaho Falls Temple. While faithful in all her assigned duties, her greatest life-long love was as the organist or pianist for church meetings and choirs even until her last days. Ileen is survived by her four children, Janet (Stephen) Smith of Altadena, CA; Dr. Lynn (Nancy) Purcell of Tremonton, UT; Ryan Purcell of Sandy, UT; and Nancy Purcell of Sandy, UT; her sister Helen (James) Norberg of Syracuse, UT; and her brother Mark (Rory) May of West Point, UT; Ileen has 9 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, two sisters, one son, two grandsons and one great-granddaughter. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at Wood Funeral Home East Side, 963 S. Ammon Road. The family will visit with friends Tuesday from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services.

Burial will be in the Ammon Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home East Side.

Funeral Services will be held