Obituary of Elaine Yvonne Purchase

Elaine Yvonne Purchase 04/17/1923 Grand Rapids, MI transitioned peacefully in presence of only child/son Daryl Purchase 07/21/2018. Husband Royal L Purchase (Roy) passed Sept 29, 2012 - Married 66 years. Sister Marlene & brother Darwin passed in previous years.

Elaine requested in lieu of flowers - Donation to own favorite church, charity or plant a tree (Parks Dept). Services @ VA Bay Pines Cemetery. Interment with Roy will be arranged/announced by email/phone in couple months when weather is more appropriate followed by Celebration of Life at adjacent Bay Pines War Veterans' Memorial Park.

Born to dairy farmers Irving J and Audrey Manshaem as the oldest of 3 siblings Marlene & Darwin who looked up to her. Dairy farming is hard work and all were expected to participate. That basis made mother physically & mentally strong @ only 100# throughout her life's challenges.

Started school in one room red brick school house with bell on top with Royal L Purchase future husband with birthdays only 1 mo apart. Daryl went to the same school with same teacher. Later in high school mother was as was to be the case throughout her life ahead of her time in many endeavors as she was athletic enough to be the only woman on boys' baseball team @ key position of 1st base. Highly intelligent, extremely organized and efficient she did well in school and used these gifts throughout life in work and home.

Mother was fiercely independent and fearless with drive to constantly experience new things. She left the farm at beginning of WW2 by train to San Francisco with no job or place to stay and worked it out getting a job with the government to assist veterans & dependents. She loved SF because of the variety of new things to experience and do. She was so well respected as a person and her work that after the war the commander offered her a civilian job back East. I have all the paper work mother kept of the accomodations etc from her work.

Worked in Ohio, NJ and and finally back to MI as secretary as had gone to business school. Even worked with sister for short time @ Diesel.

Roy returned from WW2 to MI and started dating Elaine. He had been engineer because of intelligence. ARMY gave him choice of that or infantry. Thought engineer better except they left out word in front of-- COMBAT. Built/cleared and fought ahead of infantry . Sargent from Normandy, through Battle of Bulge and other hell, built first successful bridge across the Rhine River and others where received shapnel in back and Purple Heart, to being first troops to meet the Russians in Berlin. Their group was rough and tumble (dad could lift 600#). Job too tough for others they would get attached to get it done. Father's gifted intelligence,logic, analytical and physical skills allowed him to continue to design/build/oversee incredible projects throughout life often that collegiate engineers said couldn't be done. I was fortunate to have a father willing to teach and help me learn.

Trip with questionable vehicle and trailer as after war resources still scarce ( wasn't much dad couldn't make work someway) on back roads to Idaho. Slightly removed family farmer members gave them a big wedding @ age 28. Eventually worked back to MI.

Tired of MI weather and jobs worked there my parents decided to try FL multiple times after I was born 1950 moving permanently in 57. Ultimately a fisherman relation who was rapidly building his business Pinellas Seafood ultimately to mega million $ offered father a job which involved being head mechanic/engineer designing/building/repairing: fishing boats, construction, refrigeration, hydraulics, mechanics, electrical, etc. Little that he couldn't accomplish. Mother did various jobs including for period of time working as secretary under doctor in beginning of All Children's Hospital as well as being incredible home maker and care giver always working hard to improve things.

Persevering 66 years of marriage until father's passing @ 89. Constantly active doing things together: bowling, golf, canoeing, tennis (mother loved), traveling across country to public natural lands/attractions including Alaska, Hawaii, around the world to explore (Russia, China, Central & South American countries, Australia,New Zealand,Europe), & various events. Mother researched/ initiated/organized and father helped to implement. They made a team and lived life. I encouraged them to use the money they had saved for my college education instead to adventure while they had the health. Retirement - too late for some considerations.

Mother worked hard to insure a wonderful home environment including being a superb cook. She worked hard to research and implement healthy balanced meals. She constantly planned activities doing the hard work necessary including cooking for events or picnics @ unique places for friends & family. Both mom and dad worked together to compliment each other with their unique skills and talents always looking out and doing for others and expecially their son. They were always engaged with me in various sports I played, Cub Scouts (Den Mother), Boy Scouts ( father taking out on commercial fishing boat to islands or to camping events), to encouraging education, teaching mechanical skills (father), to education on life's questions and knowledge of functioning in life from both. Constant support if needed.

Mother was constant motion mentally and physically with an awareness of what was happening around her as was father. She wanted to learn and experience new things and to stay physically fit. She was ahead of her time in so many ways including studying nutrition and applying to superb meals planned and executed with detail. Mother would read for knowledge including going to library for research. She handled the home including often the yard and all finances and life's necessary challenges with expertise and organizational precision. Both were caring, giving people.

Near 15 years ago mother got the flu and coughed so violently that it caused a hemorrhagic stroke that instantly transformed her life. She had been fully engaged in life physically and mentally. Told that she would have little function until maybe a year, 10 days later I had her home walking albeit with some paralysis on right side. She had amazing function considering that much of her short term memory was destroyed which astounded the doctors. The fortitude, perseverance and motivation including physical health that sustained mother through her life improved her outcome although she was fully aware that she wasn't functioning mentally or physically the same.

I had to care for her and father who eventually also had health issues, but like mother was tough and fought back. I researched nutritional supplements which I administered to help both. I would take them when possible to parks, sailing, and whatever I thought we could attempt often with considerable challenges to try to give them some semblance of the life they once enjoyed.

Mother and father enjoyed life to the fullest yet always took time and energy to include helping others including fortunate me and never put themselves above anyone. They were caring, loving, friendly, intelligent, kind, considerate, trustful, loyal, helpful, courteous, brave with unique skills and talents and approached life with such persistence and strength. They both also possessed a dry intelligent wit with their observations and interactions that endeared them to many. Such as mom in hospital when they attempted to strap her down in bed as she was so light and constantly moving setting off the alarm pressure pad under her. Nurses tired of aerobic exercise running to check. I waited for response when left. Mother grabbed the belt and yanked both directions and up then wiggled down under and popped up the other side. Not expected from 90 year old lady with flexibility of teenager. "This isn't Russia! That damn thing didn't hold me!" That summarized the spirit and determined persistence of my parents lives.

I am so gratefull and proud that I had such incredible parents for so long and so much a part of my life. I leaned so much from both. I am disappointed that at times I didn't live up to the standards they maintained through life or fulfilled some dreams they had for me and yet they never failed to love and support me without complaint. I now fully understand what unconditional love is as I have been living with it from two not only wonderful parents but also my best friends. This void will never be filled. As they have moved on to a new beginning I too must do the same to honor my mother and father's dreams of a life of fullfillment and happiness for me.

Thank you for all you gave me. I miss you so much. I wish love, joy and peace for you in your new adventure and being.