Dwight Leroy Purviance

Dwight Leroy Purviance, 88, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, passed away on March 10 at his home. Born on February 28, 1938, in Decatur, Illinois, to Dwight and Mary (Cline) Purviance, he graduated from Mt. Pulaski High School in 1956. That same year he married Barbara Donnelly, and together they raised two sons, Nathan (Carol) and Jonathan (Andrea). He was blessed with two grandchildren, Jason and Stacy, and five great-grandchildren.

In 1985, Dwight married Janice Vaughn Gessaman and welcomed her three children, Kimberly (Mark), Kraig (Elizabeth), and Von (Lisa), into his heart. This union brought five additional grandchildren, Adam, Roman, Rhiannon, Heather, and Morgan, and eleven great-grandchildren. A dedicated craftsman, Dwight worked as head millwright at Firestone Tire Company in Decatur for 37 years before retiring in 2001. He and Janice later moved from Illinois to Arizona and eventually settled in Missouri.

Dwight found great joy in traveling, spending time with his family, and sharing his deep knowledge of hunting and firearms. He was a faithful member of Twin Springs Baptist Church and a proud member of the NRA. He is survived by his brother, Dean Purviance, and his sister, Barbara Brown.