George Robert "Bob" Purvis passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on December 13, 2016 in Springfield Mo at the age of 83.

Bob was born in Helena, AR on October 14, 1933 to Thorton Snyder Purvis and Katharine Edwidge Terry Purvis. At the age of 19, working as a traveling salesman for a woman's clothing store, life took him to Pittsburg, KS where he met a pretty young girl named Charlene Johnson. They married soon after and had three children. In 1962, the family moved to Kansas City where Bob began his own construction company, and continued to be self-employed the remainder of his life. He moved to Springfield Mo in 1974. Bob and Charlene were divorced in 1980 and he later remarried Sally McCarthy of Springfield and they moved to La Russell Mo until Sally passed away. He then returned to Springfield to be close to his two sons, Butch and Pete.

Bob is survived by his three children, Debi Lewis and her husband, Bret of Tulsa, OK, her children Philip Lyon (Ashley) of New Orleans, LA, Kristin Robert, (Hugh), Tulsa, OK, Butch Purvis and his wife Kathy, Ozark, Mo, their children Myndi Dillard (Greg) of Overland Park, KS and Shawn Purvis (Heidi) of Mission, KS and Pete Purvis and Brenda Russell, and Pete's children, Christopher Purvis, (Jessica) of Springfield and Taylor Paige, Springfield. He also has 5 great-grandchildren, Ava Lyon, Harper and Arch Dillard, Mia Purvis and Ashley Purvis. He is survived by his siblings, Melvin Purvis, Jim Purvis and Terriann West, all of Little Rock. He was pre-deceased by Sally Purvis and Charlene Purvis, and siblings Buddy, Katherine and Marcella all of Little Rock AR.

A man of many interests and a teller of tall tales that grew larger with each version, he truly enjoyed people and helping those he could. He loved animals and any stray that wandered his way, soon had a loving new forever home. He sure loved a good game of pool and hustled a few folks, claiming he didn't know much about the game! Tinkering around with anything mechanical and working on old vehicles kept him busy, there was always something in the "restoration" process. Taking one of those projects, his 1970's Jeep CJ 7 out to Telluride with Sally and Philip was the ride of a lifetime! He had mastered the art of the smoker and took great pride in cooking up a great batch of ribs and boatload of his secret sauce!

Our father was very proud of his family and we will miss his many "GRP-isms"…. One of the many that I often recall, and there are others, but try to remember this one…"Be careful of the words you speak, keep them soft and sweet. For you never know from day to day, which ones you'll have to eat!"  And one more thing about Bob Purvis, he loved Christmas music, and one song in particular. Jehovah…., hallelujah, the Lord will provide! It is a beautiful song that he loved to sing, but he couldn't carry a tune in a wet bucket! Please, Dad…just let the angels sing!

A private service for the family will be held at a later date. For those wishing to make a donation in his memory, we suggest the Humane Society, Harmony House or Alzheimers Association.

Arrangements are under the care of Gorman Scharpf Funeral Home, Springfield MO