Betty Jean Purnell

Our beloved Betty Jean (Hayman) Purnell passed away peacefully in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at the age of 87 after a brief illness. She rests now in the loving arms and eternal peace of God.
Betty was born June 18, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, to the union of the late Phillip and Betty Hayman. Hers was a happy and comfortable childhood as the daughter of a business owner and a homemaker who shared their home with her cherished maternal grandmother, Mary Drake. Betty, her twin sister, Norma (Hayman) Goff, and older brother, Phillip Hayman (both of whom preceded her in death), were all raised in the church, which was the center of both their spiritual and social lives. She remained a woman of abiding faith all of her life.
A 1954 graduate of Sumner High School, Betty went on to earn an undergraduate degree from Stowe Teachers College and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She began her teaching career at Laclede Elementary School in the Saint Louis Public Schools in 1969. Tough and highly effective, she taught English Language Arts to 7th and 8th graders, her favorite. Recognizing her skills and professionalism, a series of administrators encouraged her to pursue advancement first as an Instructional Coordinator, then Assistant Principal, and finally Principal. She retired in 2003 as Principal of Mullanphy Elementary School near the Missouri Botanical Garden in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis. It was not uncommon for men and women she had taught decades ago to stop her and say that they remembered what a good-and stern-teacher she was. She enjoyed knowing what an impression she had made.
In May of 1964, Betty married her husband of 60 years, Que Purnell. She was a devoted and loyal wife, and they enjoyed a rich and active social life. Until her later years, she was an active member of the St. Louis chapter of the Drifters, Incorporated, Our Second Act, and the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Betty and Que were regular fixtures at the Royal Vagabonds' annual New Year's Eve celebration. They also loved to travel, most notably to Rome, Athens, Monaco, and Tahiti. After retirement they went on yearly jazz cruises. They would have celebrated their 61st anniversary on May 2nd of this year.
Betty's greatest joy by far came from being a mother to Alvin (Barbara) Purnell, Apryl (Tom) Tilert, and Jason Purnell. She welcomed her grandchildren, Tiffany (Brandon) Gaston, Maya Purnell, and Will Purnell, with deep and lasting gladness, and she was proud to be the great-grandmother of Serenity, Trinity, Harmony, and Ezra Gaston. She also leaves to cherish her memory several nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Betty Purnell lived a beautiful life of love, dedication, and service. She balanced the highest of expectations with a full measure of care and support. Though she was a private person by nature, she welcomed people with genuine warmth. She touched the staff at Surrey Place with her sweetness and motherly concern and even charmed the care team at Evelyn's House in her final days. This brilliant, classy, wonderful, beautiful woman will be deeply missed by her family and all who knew and loved her, but what a tremendous blessing it was to have her while we did.
A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at Incarnate Word Catholic Church, 13416 Olive Boulevard, Chesterfield, Missouri, 63017, at 11:00 a.m. It will be preceded by a visitation at the church starting at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in honor of Betty Purnell be made to the Saint Louis Public Schools Foundation (slpsfoundation.org) or the Maren Fund (marenfund.org).

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