Marja (Purvis) Pearson Obituary

Marja Lee (Purvis) Pearson, age 87, of Baldwin City, KS, passed away June 26, 2019, in Baldwin City, KS. Marja was born September 7, 1931 to Fred Russell Purvis and Alta May (Peaslee) Purvis in Baldwin, Kansas. She married Ralph Raymond Pearson July 7, 1949, shortly after graduating from Baldwin High School where they were sweethearts. They enjoyed nearly 70 years of marriage together spending the first years living in Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina while he was in the Marines. Ralph passed away May 19, 2019; they were never apart for so long. Heads would turn and smile to see them holding hands at 85 years of age and how Ralph cared for her during the years of her fading memory, though she never forgot him.
Marja was very active assisting her husband with his business and supporting her three children and her grandchildren along the way. She served on the PTA, many years on the election board and supporting her children's scouting and 4H activities. She loved any sports/activities that involved family. She also enjoyed art activities and quilting, machine quilting for others as well.
She is survived by two sons; Ed Pearson and wife Ann, Richard Pearson and wife Marcheta and daughter Susan Davis, (her daughters-in-law who cherished her as much as she adored them), grandchildren Kelly, Melanie, Dane, Mallory, Russell, Jeff and Matthew and 8 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister-in-law Mary Haid and many nieces and nephews whom she took great joy in.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; brother-in-law, Elton Haid; son-in-law, James Davis; and beautiful great-granddaughter, Ella Beal. Also remembered are her siblings, Naomi Lederer (Arley Lederer); Fred Calvin Purvis, (Mildred Purvis) and Howard Purvis, along with the dear nephews that meant so much to them both.
While she married into a family with local history, she was exceedingly proud of her own heritage. Marja was a great-granddaughter of Henry and Mary Barricklow, some of the founders of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Baker University in Baldwin, who are inurned at Pioneer Cemetery in Baldwin.
Memorial funeral services will be held, 4:00 p.m., Friday, July 5, 2019 at Ives Chapel Methodist Church, Baldwin City, KS. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery, Baldwin City. The family will meet with friends at 3:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers those wishing to make a memorial in her name may do so in care of the funeral home to: City of Baldwin, Pioneer Cemetery and Prairie Heritage Project. (Please note the project name or simply Pioneer Cemetery. The project is grant funded and private donation to rehab the cemetery, protect the prairie and provide educational information to the community. Work will begin in the late fall and continue.) Persons may opt to remember Ives Chapel United Methodist Church where they held membership. The family wishes to express its gratitude to Good Shepard Hospice. Condolences may be sent to the family through www.lambroberts. com.