Janell Purdy

Janell Kay Purdy February 22, 1959 -April 19,2019
Mrs. Janell Kay Purdy, of Cleghorn, IA, formerly of Beggs, OK, passed away on Friday April 19, 2019 in Sapulpa, OK at the age of 60. Janell was born in Sioux Falls, SD on February 22, 1959 to LaVern and Phyllis (Barnick) Briese. She grew up the youngest of 4 children and attended school at Meriden­Cleghorn Schools and graduated in 1977. She was very active in track during her school days. She held the school record for the women’s shot-put for many years. Janell attended Des Moines Area Community College for business. In 1984 she moved to Beggs, OK and married the love of her life Norman Lee Purdy, in 1985. In 1987 she gave birth to their daughter, Sara.
Janell was loved by many and will be remembered with many great memories. She was very active in the PTA and always helped with the Girl Scouts. She loved bowling and played on many leagues around the Green Country area. Janell loved all animals and never went anywhere without her precious sidekick, Quila. Janell was an avid collector of M&M figurines and Coca-Cola Collectibles.
Janell is survived by her daughter Sara and her husband Jeremy Starner and grand-daughter Cynthia of Sapulpa, her sister Susan Briese of Cleghorn, IA, nephew Jason Briese of Worthington, MN, her brother Randy Briese and wife Rita of Harrisburg, SD, nephew Justin Briese and family of Aberdeen SD, niece Lynnsey Briese of Aberdeen, SD and her niece Mindy Olson and family of Hartford, SD and many special friends in Oklahoma and Iowa. Janell is also survived by four children of her late husband, Wayne Purdy, Jimmy Purdy, Sandra Hill and Leta Wright, nine grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Norman, father LaVern, mother Phyllis, brother Lonnie Briese, stepson Donald Purdy, brother in law Roger Ducommun, and her beloved Quila.
The family request in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute, 12697 E. 51st Street South Tulsa, OK 74146 or June E. Nylen Cancer Center, 230 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA 51101 for the treatment room snack fund.
Memorial services will be held at the Meriden Community Center in Meriden, IA on May 11th at 2pm.
The family will be honoring Janell with a celebration of life at a later date in Oklahoma.
Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK are handling services.