Mrs. Mary Kathryn “Katie” Marsh Purcell, age 98, of Greensburg, Indiana formerly of Cross Plains, Indiana. Katie entered this life on November 16, 1925 in Seymour, Indiana. She was the loving daughter of the late Charles Lester and Ruth S. Simmons Marsh. She was raised in Seymour and Reddington and attended school there. She was united in marriage to Andrew Heath in 1943 and this union was blessed with daughters, Patricia Mae, Donna Sue and sons, Michael Andrew and Jerry Wayne. She was a devoted mother and wife working on the farm and helping to raise her young family. The family settled in Cross Plains community. She would (several years later) become a member of the Cross Plains Baptist Church. On April 6, 1972, Katie was united in marriage to Phillip Paul “Bud” Purcell in Madison, Indiana. This happy union of 35 years blended two families together with the addition of Bud’s children. She was ultimately responsible for leading Bud to ask Jesus to be his Lord and Savior and be baptized. She worked hard on the farm as well, and raised a big garden with Bud. She loved to can and preserve foods and would can anything she could get her hands on to have for the family. She was a wonderful cook, loved to crochet, and could upholster furniture. She took cake decorating classes and soon was making beautiful wedding cakes and well crafted fanciful birthday cakes. She last served at the Silver Bell Nursing Home in Ripley county where she dearly loved helping others. For a time she would baby sit and she especially was fond of one of her kids she had watched, Ashley Holland Reddick who stayed in touch with her. She read her Bible and lived by it’s teachings. Katie passed peacefully on Monday, July 8, 2024, at 9:39 a.m. at the home of her daughter in Greensburg, Indiana.
A LOVING FAMILY
Katie will be missed by her son, Jerry Wayne Heath and his wife, Beverly of Versailles, Indiana; her daughter, Donna Sue “Susi” Dean of Greensburg, Indiana; her step daughter, Phyllis Jackson & her husband: Darrell of Madison, Indiana; her step son, James Purcell of Scottsburg, Indiana; her grandchildren, Angela Dribusch (Stephen), Amy Heath Hughes, Alan Heath, and Jesika Dean. Step grandchildren, Angie Horan, Rachele Roberts, Nathan Dean, and Basil Dean; her 12 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren, her step granddaughter, Lisa Jackson White; 2-step great grandsons; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Lester Marsh, died, July 6, 1993, her mother, Ruth S. Simmons Marsh, died February 20, 1954, her brothers, Gene R. Marsh, died September 19, 2020 and Charles Robert Marsh, died December 27, 1953, her sister, Doris Marsh Kleffman, died December 9, 2022, her beloved husband of 35 years, Phillip Paul “Bud” Purcell, died May 11, 2007, her daughter, Patricia Mae “Patti” Heath, died in 1948, her son, Michael Andrew Heath, died November 18, 2005, and her son in law, Lawrence “Larry” W. Dean, died May 26, 2013.
FUNERAL CEREMONY
Funeral services will be conducted Friday, July 12, 2024, at 2:00 pm, at Neal’s Funeral Home, 306 South Walnut Street in Osgood, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Salem Cemetery, East County Rd. 1050 S., Cross Plains, Indiana.
VISITATION
Friends may visit Friday from 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Neal’s Funeral Home, 306 South Walnut Street in Osgood, Indiana.
MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS
Memorial contributions may be made to Salem Cemetery or Our Hospice of Southeastern Indiana &/or Wheeler Mission, Indianapolis, IN. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover or at Neal’s Funeral Home in Osgood. Online condolences, remembrances, and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com or at www.nealsfuneralhome.net
CARING SERVICES BY:
The staff of Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres and the staff of Neal’s Fuenral Home.