Born at St. Joseph Hospital, Tampa Florida, to Edwin Mercer Purcell and Madge Davis Purcell, on November 30, 1943. She lived in Crystal River Florida and graduated from Crystal River High School. Attended Junior College, and then graduated from Florida State College with a degree in elementary education.
She came to Palm Beach County to intern with her college roommate, and interned at Northborough Elementary School. She taught after interning at Forest Hill Elementary. Both Pat and her roommate decided to move and teach in Fort Lauderdale Florida, but she wasn't able to obtain a position, so she took a position at Poinciana Elementary School in Boynton Beach Florida. She eventually returned to Forest Hill Elementary, where after obtaining her Masters at FAU in guidance, moved to the school's guidance position. In 2002 she finally decided to retire.
Pat met Nelson Parrish in 1969, and they dated for two years, then were married May first, 1971, and have been a loving couple since. Pat and Nelson enjoyed going to the Bahamas in their boat, and especially traveling the entire United States and Canada in the motorhomes they had through the years.
They have one daughter, Paula, who married Gary Neal, and they have two grandsons, Anthony and Jay Neal. Her brother, Ken Purcell and wife Linda live in Murray Kentucky, and she has a sister in law, Linda Henderson of Altamonte Springs Florida. There are two nephews, Parrish and David and one great nephew Knox, named after her dad, and one great niece Annabelle.
She was pre-deceased by one brother-David, and her mother and father, Madge and Edwin ( Knox ) Purcell.
Pat and Nelson have many friends throughout the United States and Canada and she will be missed by all who knew and loved her, for her easy going, always willing to help and everyone was her friend personality.
