Tommie Gene Purdy

Tommie Gene Purdy, 84, of Decatur, passed away at 4:25 p.m. Monday June 9, 2014 in Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur.

A service to celebrate Tommie's life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday June 12, 2014, at Dawson & Wikoff Funeral Home, Mt. Zion with Pastor Steve DeVore officiating. Burial with graveside services will be in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Du Quoin, Ill. at 3:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation Wednesday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Antioch Christian Church. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com.

Tommie was born Dec. 28, 1929, in Du Quoin, Ill., the son of Lester and Ruth (Eaton) Purdy. He married Marilyn J. McMurray on Dec. 19, 1959. He retired in 1987 from Caterpillar as an Inspector after 35 years of service to the company. He served his country in the U.S. Navy and was a Korean War veteran. Tommie was a member of the Antioch Christian Church. He was a former member of the UAW Local #751. Tommie had a love for automobiles and had owned several cars.

Surviving are his wife Marilyn of Decatur; children: Tommy Purdy and his wife Della of Lima, Ohio, Brett Purdy of Decatur, Jon Purdy and his wife Dante of Mt. Zion and Chad Purdy and his wife Asta of Oak Lawn, Ill.; brother: David Purdy and his wife Sue of Du Quoin, Ill. grandchildren: Ashley and her husband Zach, Tieler, Lucas and Ava; five step grandchildren and three step great-grandchildren also survive.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother: Donald "Jack."