Que Prince Purnell

Que Prince (Paul) Purnell, the ever-stalwart rock of his family, passed away in the early afternoon of Monday, April 7, 2025, just four days after his beloved wife of more than 60 years, Betty Jean (Hayman) Purnell. He rests with her now in the Everlasting Arms.

Born in Greenville, Mississippi, on January 24, 1938, to the union of the late James Purnell and Cornelia Skaggs Williams, Que was the eagerly anticipated first grandchild of the late Prince Loggins, Sr., and Ruby Loggins. They not only doted on their grandson but helped to raise him in Mississippi for several years until he could relocate to St. Louis with his mother and stepfather, Wilbert Skaggs, after the end of the Second World War. The family soon grew to include his younger sisters, Shirley Sloan and Linda Kimbrough, who survive him, and Marsha Skaggs, who preceded him in death.

Though his mother was a devout and active Baptist, she decided that Que would attend Catholic school in St. Louis. This proved a fateful decision, as his own devout Catholicism began with proudly serving Mass at St. Francis Xavier (College) Church and endured for the rest of his life.

After graduating from Sumner High School, he enlisted in the United States Army and served as an X-Ray Technician, a role that he loved. Unfortunately, a motor vehicle accident led to his honorable medical discharge only two years later. As she tells the story, it was while he was convalescing that Betty Hayman found out about his accident and reached out to check on him. She turned out to be the love of his life, and they were married on May 2, 1964.

Industrious, ambitious, and tenacious since his days of making deliveries for the neighborhood drugstore as a young boy, Que decided that he wanted a job like the salesmen he saw making calls upon his boss. Despite there being very few African Americans in those roles, he was undeterred. He began by selling insurance, went on to work for the Sealtest Dairy company, and finally landed at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as an Advertising Executive. He greatly enjoyed driving around his territory, chatting with clients and convincing them of the wisdom of promoting their businesses in the Post. During one such drive in Creve Coeur, he found the subdivision where he and his family would make their home. Another conversation with a potential client resulted in Ted Drewes Frozen Custard finally advertising in the funny pages of paper. When he retired from the Post-Dispatch, Que Purnell was one of the most highly recognized salesmen on his team and a mentor to younger African Americans who followed the trail that he had blazed.

There was nothing more important to him than his family. His children, Alvin (Barbara) Purnell, Apryl (Tom) Tilert, and Jason Purnell were his joy. He cherished his role as Grandpa to Tiffany (Brandon) Gaston and Papa to Maya and Will Purnell and was happy to be great-grandfather to Serenity, Trinity, Harmony, and Ezra Gaston. One of the patriarchs of his extended family, he was an especially devoted uncle to his niece, Candice Skaggs, and the estimable Uncle Q.P. to Joshua Sloan, Kevin (Amanda) Kimbrough, Corey Kimbrough, and Camille (Janna) Moon. He is also survived by a host of cousins and friends.

Que Purnell leaves a legacy of love, steadfast dedication, faith, and strength. We were held safely in his arms for all our lives and find peace in the knowledge that he can finally be at rest.

Please note that these arrangements supersede an earlier announcement in the obituary for Betty Jean Purnell. A joint visitation for Betty and Que Purnell will be held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 10:45 a.m., both at Incarnate Word Catholic Church, 13416 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO, 63017. Interment will be at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Funeral services provided by Austin Layne Mortuary.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Que Prince Purnell, please visit our floral store.