Grace Algerine Gowan Purser, Age 91, died peacefully at Oxley Park Health and Rehab after a lengthy illness.
She was born September 1, 1925 in Stuckey, Georgia. She was the third child of Annie Lee Sightler Gowan and John Luther Gowan. Her siblings were the late Milton Hyman Gowan of Stuckey, the late Leah Gowan Tindol of Dublin, and Kathleen Jeanette Gowan Gibbs of Alamo.
Her maternal grandparents were Harmon Sightler and Ida Joiner Sightler of Stuckey. Paternal grandparents were Dawson Gowan and Mary Gillis Gowan of Glenwood.
She graduated from Glenwood High School in 1942, where she was President of the Literary Society, sang in the Glee Club, and was a guard on the basketball team, which won the district championship in 1941 and 1942.
From 1943 until 1947, she worked at the Ailey Shirt Factory as a trimmer (which would now be considered an inspector), and in 1947 became employed by Southern Bell Telephone Company in Macon, Georgia.
Mrs. Purser married the late Edward Jackson Purser September 3, 1948 and remained married to him for 29 years until his death on October 7, 1980. In December of 1948, she and her husand moved to Detroit where Mr. Purser, in April of 1949, joined the Chrysler Corporation, working in their automobile manufacturing division. Mrs. Purser began working for the S.S. Kresge Company in 1950 and remained employed there until 1962.
In 1962, Mrs. Purser attended Eastside Beauty School in Detroit and became a licensed cosmetologist. She was a hair stylist in Detroit for 13 months.
In 1964, Mr. and Mrs. Purser returned to Georgia and settled in Warner Robins. Mr. Purser became the owner and proprietor of Purser’s Standard Station on Watson Boulevard, a franchise of Standard Oil. For health reasons, he retired in 1973.
From 1964 until 1965, Mrs. Purser was employed by K-Mart in Macon. From 1965-1975, she was employed at Robins Air Force Base. From 1975 until 1985, she worked from home as a cosmetologist before retirement.
During the 32 years she lived in Warner Robins, she was a member of the Shirley Hills Baptist Church, where she was a member of the Keenagers (senior adults) and Keenagers Khorus choir. In 1996, following the death of her sister Leah, Mrs. Purser moved to Dublin, and became a member of the Jefferson Street Baptist Church, where she was active in the Cain and Abel Choir. In 2001, she moved back to Glenwood and became a member of the Stuckey Baptist Church, where she had been a member during her youth.
Mrs. Purser is survived by her sister, Jeanette Gibbs (A.F.); Her sister-in-law, Dorothy Adams Gowan (Hyman) of Stuckey; her nephew, Dr. George Allen Tindol Jr., of Decatur; and her nieces, Barbara Gowan Avery (L.P.) and Regina McNeal (Wendell) of Wheeler County. On her husband’s side, her nephews, Keith Purser of Marietta, Tim Montford of Riverdale, and Victor Montford of Macon; and her nieces, Cynthia Montford of Cumming, and Suzanna Stubbs (Wade) of Fayetteville. She is also survived by several great-nieces and nephews, and several great-great nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service for Mrs. Grace Gowan Purser will be held Sunday August 6, 2017 at 4:00 PM at Stuckey Baptist Church with Reverend Randall Gibbs and B.L. Horne officiating. Interment will follow at Shiloh Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church Sunday afternoon from 3:00 PM until the hour of the service.
In Lieu of flowers, friends and relatives are encouraged to contribute to their favorite charity.
Stewart-Rosier Funeral Glenwood Chapel is in charge of funeral arrangements.
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