Lawrence Kenneth "Tom" PURVIS [Parents] was born in 1908. He died on 25 Sep 1999 in Dade City, FL. He married Viola (Purvis) in 1937. Lawrence resided in 1933. He resided in 1937.
He signed his name as L Kenneth at the 1923 and later Powell family reunions.
Residences & events:
1924-5 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, Il. Tom was captain of the football team both years, sharing the limelight with brother, Jim, who was on the same team. They both continued the sport into their college years, both still in starring roles.
1934 Danville, IL, was his address when his mother died.
During WWII Tom served in the Navy as a flight instructor.
3/18/1947 Mattoon, IL, where Tom was in the auto business. In the "50 Years Ago Today" (3/18/1997) column of the newspaper was the following item: "Owners of the first four-lace post-war airplane in this are are two Mattooners, Tom Purvis, automobile dealer and Paul Cramer, a Big Four locomotive engineer. Mr. Purvis came from Chicago in the plane Sunday in one hour and six minutes. The plane was bought through James McBride of Mattoon airport."
10/24/47 And later in the same column: "Film Actor Robert Taylor left the Mattoon airport in his private plane this morning after spending the night in Mattoon. He arrived here late Thursday afternoon after two days in Washington, D.C. testifying before a House committee on un-American activities. He was visiting Tom Purvis and his brother, James Purvis."
2/21/48 Tom owned a tractor and implement business as well as the auto dealership.
2/24/48 The Mattoon City Commission named him to the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners.
1961 Bradenton, FL, his residence at the time of his father's death.
The Powell family reunion roster listed his address change to Decatur.
Viola (Purvis) died in 1996. She married Lawrence Kenneth "Tom" PURVIS in 1937.
Mid-1950s She was among the wives of influential leaders of Mattoon, IL, who had their photo taken with Ronald Reagan when he came to town as a spokesman for General Electric.
They had the following children:
M i John PURVIS. John resided in 1999. F ii Nancy PURVIS.
James Carleton "Collie Jim" PURVIS [Parents] was born on 30 Apr 1910. He died in May 1973. He married Helen Williams on 9 Jul 1939 in Prescott, AZ, at the ranch of her parents.
Other marriages:(Purvis), Mary Lou
Jim is the Purvis family's claim to fame.
Residences & events:
1921 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL, was his address when he attended the Powell family reunion with Wayne Purvis.
1924-1925 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. He was a football star from the local arena before going on to bigger and better things, sharing the limelight with team captain, brother, Tom. On that same team was Harry Hill, later known nationally as "Tiny" Hill, dance band leader.
1925-1927 Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, where he continued playing football on the high school team.
1928-31 Indiana. Jim attended Purdue Univ where his many awards included All-America halfback. As part of a group of All-Americans he was chosen to make a football movie in Hollywood starring Richard Arlen, Jimmy Gleason, Andy Devine, Gloria Stuart, and others.
Following graduation from college, he coached football for 4 years at Purdue, with brother, Duane, also an All-American, among his students. In the summer months, he returned to Hollywood to make several westerns and football movies. It was there he became, and remained, friends with such names as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Hoot Gibson, Irene Dunn, John Boles, Robert Taylor, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans. He boasted of their various visits to his home throughout the years. See 1947 entry under brother, Tom, re Robert Taylor.
1939 AZ, near Prescott, where he assumed management of his father-in-law's ranch. His brand, the flying JP, was used for the New Mexico registered cattle and horses raised there.
Albuquerque, New Mexico He had a western kid show on TV for years with his horse and dog with guest appearances by such stars as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Rin-Tin-Tin.
2/21/48 Mattoon, IL. As reported in the newspaper: "Jim Purvis at long last has come home to his native Mattoon to go into business with his brother, L.K. "Tom" Purvis after several years in the sports and military world. Jim has bought a half interest in Tom's tractor and implement business leaving the automobile business entirely to Tom."
Helen Williams.Helen married James Carleton "Collie Jim" PURVIS on 9 Jul 1939 in Prescott, AZ, at the ranch of her parents.
James Carleton "Collie Jim" PURVIS [Parents] was born on 30 Apr 1910. He died in May 1973. He married Mary Lou (Purvis) on 5 Jun 1943.
Other marriages:Williams, Helen
Jim is the Purvis family's claim to fame.
Residences & events:
1921 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL, was his address when he attended the Powell family reunion with Wayne Purvis.
1924-1925 Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. He was a football star from the local arena before going on to bigger and better things, sharing the limelight with team captain, brother, Tom. On that same team was Harry Hill, later known nationally as "Tiny" Hill, dance band leader.
1925-1927 Mattoon, Coles Co, IL, where he continued playing football on the high school team.
1928-31 Indiana. Jim attended Purdue Univ where his many awards included All-America halfback. As part of a group of All-Americans he was chosen to make a football movie in Hollywood starring Richard Arlen, Jimmy Gleason, Andy Devine, Gloria Stuart, and others.
Following graduation from college, he coached football for 4 years at Purdue, with brother, Duane, also an All-American, among his students. In the summer months, he returned to Hollywood to make several westerns and football movies. It was there he became, and remained, friends with such names as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Hoot Gibson, Irene Dunn, John Boles, Robert Taylor, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Dale Evans. He boasted of their various visits to his home throughout the years. See 1947 entry under brother, Tom, re Robert Taylor.
1939 AZ, near Prescott, where he assumed management of his father-in-law's ranch. His brand, the flying JP, was used for the New Mexico registered cattle and horses raised there.
Albuquerque, New Mexico He had a western kid show on TV for years with his horse and dog with guest appearances by such stars as Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and Rin-Tin-Tin.
2/21/48 Mattoon, IL. As reported in the newspaper: "Jim Purvis at long last has come home to his native Mattoon to go into business with his brother, L.K. "Tom" Purvis after several years in the sports and military world. Jim has bought a half interest in Tom's tractor and implement business leaving the automobile business entirely to Tom."
Mary Lou (Purvis).Mary married James Carleton "Collie Jim" PURVIS on 5 Jun 1943.
They had the following children:
Norman J Weddell.Norman married Ida Marcelyn PURVIS about 1939. Norman resided.
Ida Marcelyn PURVIS [Parents] was born in 1921. She married Norman J Weddell about 1939. Ida resided in 1938.
Other marriages:Sestina, Male
Fuller, Male
She signed the Powell family reunion roster as still Purvis and living at the Mattoon address.
Male Sestina.Male married Ida Marcelyn PURVIS. Male resided in 1961.
Ida Marcelyn PURVIS [Parents] was born in 1921. She married Male Sestina. Ida resided in 1938.
Other marriages:Weddell, Norman J
Fuller, Male
She signed the Powell family reunion roster as still Purvis and living at the Mattoon address.
Male Fuller.Male married Ida Marcelyn PURVIS.
Ida Marcelyn PURVIS [Parents] was born in 1921. She married Male Fuller. Ida resided in 1938.
Other marriages:Weddell, Norman J
Sestina, Male
She signed the Powell family reunion roster as still Purvis and living at the Mattoon address.
James Smith.James married Nancy E POWELL on 23 Feb 1873 in Shelby Co, IL.
Nancy E POWELL [Parents] was born in 1851 in KY. She married James Smith on 23 Feb 1873 in Shelby Co, IL.
Male Lyford.Male married Carrie POWELL.
Carrie POWELL [Parents] was born on 17 Mar 1852 in KY. She died on 18 Feb 1883. She was buried in Glenwood Cem, Shelbyville, Shelby Co, IL. She married Male Lyford.
Carrie was buried with her parents and family.
Clyde HARRIS [Parents].Clyde married Mary BARNES.
Clyde was not listed in Charlie's obituary as being one of his
children.
Mary BARNES.Mary married Clyde HARRIS.
She gave a "recitation" at the 1915 Powell family reunion at Sullivan, IL.
They had the following children:
U i Unknown HARRIS. U ii Unknown HARRIS.
Zo PATTERSON.Zo married Ollie HARRIS.
Ollie HARRIS [Parents] was born on 27 Sep 1877. She died on 21 Mar 1913. She was buried in Greenhill Cem, Sullivan, Moultrie Co, IL. She married Zo PATTERSON.