Margene B Purcell

A Life Well Lived

"Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." Proverbs 21:21
Heaven welcomed Margene Bonnie Purcell through the Pearly Gates on Thursday, January 25, 2024, in
Madera, California.  She was 98 years old. This was a transition she had longed for, asking us all, why do I
have to live so long?  We would answer it was because God knew we all needed her for as long as we could
have her.  Margene would be able to live in her own home until 97 years old.  Family, friends, and neighbors in
Madera were so faithful to check on her, making sure she had what she needed and letting her know they
cared.
She was born in Hartville, Missouri, on May 18,1925, to Andrew and Josephine Raney.  There was an older
brother, Homer and two sisters, Leona and Verba, with another sister, Sabra, to arrive in the next few years.
In 1935, the family moved to Castroville, California, where Margene attended Castroville Elementary and then
Monterey High School.  She met Lyle Purcell several years later and they eloped to Carson City,
Nevada, marrying on August 19, 1941. Upon returning each went home to their individual families.  They later
moved to Salinas and had two sons, Gerald and David. Her husband, Lyle, passed away in 1982 and oldest
son, Gerald, passed away in 2017.
She went back to school as an adult and opened Little Friends Day Nursery in Salinas, continuing to teach into
her late 70's even after relocating to Madera in 1986 to be near family.  She was active in her church in
Salinas, Hebbron Heights (now Echoes of Calvary) and the D Street Pentecostal Church of God in Madera.
Singing, leading worship, speaking, and of course, contributing many of her wonderful recipes for potluck
dinners.  She would routinely give rides to people to church and would take them grocery shopping.   One of
the highlights of her time in Madera was the Friday Night Gospel Sing.  She would become a favorite and
regular attendee, playing guitar, singing, and yodeling.  But most of all she prayed for her family, sons,
daughters-in-law, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and others.  Many, many prayer journals were found in
her home, listing names, illnesses, and situations that needed prayer.  She was a source of encouragement to
so many people during her life.
Her grandchildren and great grandchildren will always think she was the best.  She would let them make forts
out of dining room chairs and blankets, bake cookies with them, share her housekeeping secrets with us, and
just show her love for all of us. While we sorrow at her passing, there is a joy that surpasses all others,
knowing we have an eternal reunion to look forward to.   She now has the ultimate physical healing as others
do that have gone on before!  What a wonderful reunion she is having!  We look at her life and know it was a
life worth living and A Life Well Lived.
Margene is survived by her son, David (Linda) Purcell of Oregon, Vicki (Gerald) Purcell of Madera;
grandchildren, Lynzey (Bay) Mourer of Missouri, Dana (Sam) Buchmann of Washington, Jeffrey (Marci) Purcell
of Idaho; Kortni (Angelo) Felieu of Madera; and Bryan (Mandy) Purcell of Virginia; great grandchildren,
Savanna and Brooklynn Mills of Missouri; Emma, Hannah and Lila Buchmann of Washington; Conner and
Collin Purcell of Idaho; Isabella Brady and Sofia Felieu of Madera; Kelly, Samantha and Trystan Purcell of
Virginia.