Betty Purser

Betty Sue Purser, 92, of Fort Smith passed away on Thursday July 7, 2016 in a local hospital. She was born October 13, 1923 in Purcell, OK to Ray and Anita (Morton) Wilcoxson. Betty was a graduate of Shawnee High School with both state and national honors. Her formal education included two years of college attending Austin College in Sherman, TX and then the University of Oklahoma where she pledged Delta Gamma Sorority. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Smith, the Pacesetters and Uplifters Sunday School Class and the United Methodist Women’s Group. She was preceded in death by her husband Harold “Hal” Purser, her parents and one sister, Jenny Lou Siderious. Through her life she was busy with her home, with short college courses and advanced courses in Red Cross Home Nursing. Her volunteer work during World War II included the Red Cross, the Sugar Rationing Board and Veterans Hospitals. Later on she worked at the library in Hoston, Texas, volunteered at the Sparks Hospital Guild, local PTA’s and RSVP. She was a member of the Methodist Village Auxiliary where she served as the Resource Chair. She dealt in antiques and books and was a weekly bridge player until she became the Librarian at the First United Methodist Church where she was very active until she was no longer able to attend. She is survived by her daughter, Patty Tritt and her husband Butch Hendricks of Fort Smith; one son, Mike Hill and his wife Joyce of Puyallup, WA; one sister, Mona Hassman of Tulsa, OK; four grandchildren, Lexie Woodruff, Michelle, Heather and Doug; one niece Kim Zipp and one nephew Doug James. Funeral service will be 10:00 A.M. Tuesday July 12, 2016 at Ocker-Putman Funeral Home Chapel of Fort Smith with burial in Mount Olive Cemetery in Midland, AR. The Family will visit with friends from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Ocker-Putman Funeral Home, 4500 Jenny Lind RD. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church Building Fund 200 North 15th Street Fort Smith, AR 72901.