Jean Phillips Purkey

Mrs. Dorotha Jean Phillips Purkey, 81, retired secretary and former longtime resident of Morristown, Tennessee, died Thursday, January 14, 2010 at Sterling House in Columbia, TN. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Hamblen Memory Gardens in Morristown with Rev. Dennis Loy officiating. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. at Mayes Funeral Home, 444 West Main Street, Morristown, TN. Oakes & Nichols Funeral Directors are assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Association, P. O. Box 1132, Fairfax, VA 22038-1132 or American Heart Association, P. O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692. Notes of sympathy may be sent to the family at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Hamblen County native was the daughter of the late Wilbur Ray Phillips and Willie Pearl Anderson Phillips. She was married to Wilbur E. Purkey who preceded her in death in 1985. She was a graduate of Bulls Gap High School and attended Morristown Business College. Mrs. Purkey was employed as secretary for Fairview School in the Hamblen County Public School System for several years. She was a member of Noe's Chapel United Methodist Church in Hamblen County. Survivors include one son, Philip Purkey of Rock Hill, South Carolina; one sister, Nell Rose (Dale) Hileman of Columbia; one nephew, Gary (Sherry) Hileman of Columbia; and special friend, Rebecca Patrick of Morristown.