VISITATION: 5~7 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the Pulliam Funeral Home in Oblong, IL.
CELEBRATION OF EVELYN’S LIFE SERVICE: 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at the White Oak Cemetery, rural Oblong. Burial will be in the White Oak Cemetery.
EXPRESSIONS OF SYMPATHY: May take the form of a contribution to White Oak Church, American Heart Association or American Diabetes Association with envelopes at or may be mailed to Pulliam Funeral Home, PO Box 121, Oblong, IL 62449.
Evelyn Maxine Baker Purcell, 94, of Oblong, IL passed away at 2:45 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015 at Ridgeview Care Center, Oblong, IL.
Evelyn was born January 10, 1921 in Goldfield, IA. She was the daughter of Eska Russell and Lyieth Brooks Russell. When she was a small child her parents moved to Jasper County, IL. She attended Riesner Grade School near Falmouth, IL. At the age of 14, her parents moved to the Hunt City, IL area. Evelyn attended two years at Newton High School. Evelyn was a homemaker. She loved to quilt for her grandchildren and other family members. She was able to quilt and crochet until her eyes failed in 2003. Evelyn was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was a faithful member of the White Oak Church, rural Oblong, IL.
On May 4, 1938 she married Victor A. Baker. They lived on a farm near Bellair until Victor’s health failed. They moved to Oblong, IL in 1979. Victor preceded Evelyn in death in August 1993. On September 5, 1997 she married Duaine Purcell. He had been a farmer. They lived in Oblong, IL. Duaine preceded Evelyn in death on January 17, 2004. Evelyn is also preceded in death by her parents; a son Kent Baker; granddaughter DeAnn Knollenberg, an infant great-granddaughter; two sisters Beatrice Earnest and Marjorie Nagle; one brother Floyd Russell.
Evelyn is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law Duane and Margaret Baker and Ray and Thelma Baker both of Oblong, IL; a daughter and son-in-law Jewel and Bob Black of Ocala, FL.; one step son and step daughter-in-law Doyle and Barbara Purcell of rural Annapolis, IL; two step daughters and step sons-in-law Carolyn and Harold Sloan of Sumner, IL and Rheta and Gary Dunlap of Oblong, IL; sixteen grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; eighteen great-great-grandchildren and a sister-in-law Phoebe Ping of Effingham, IL.
Condolences or memories to the family at www.oblongfuneralhome.com.