Sharon Elaine Purkey

Sharon Elaine Purkey of Hermitage, Tennessee, age 76, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at her home surrounded by family. She was born on October 11, 1947, in Oneida, Tennessee, to Clendon and Ruth Blakeley.

Sharon was a graduate of Oneida High School and a Home Economics major at Tennessee Tech, before she began her teaching career. She spent 19 years teaching in the Goodpasture Preschool, and especially loved her students and co-workers. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling to Electric Cooperative meetings throughout the state and the country with Tommy, during his career with Tennessee Electric Cooperative Association. In 2010, at the age of 62, she decided to go back to Tennessee Tech to complete her college degree, and she did it! Perhaps her greatest achievement was when she gained the title “Granny”, and she cherished that role with each of her grandchildren.

Sharon loved her Oneida roots and the dear family and friends from there who helped shape her life. She proved that her vows in marriage- even ones vowed while eloping- were ones she was determined to keep with the love of her life and her best friend Tommy, and they truly exemplified those vows “til death do us part”. Sharon was a source of joy and light. She was an entertaining storyteller. She was a thoughtful, generous giver. She showed up and was present. She was a loyal family member and friend. She was an active member of Donelson Church of Christ for 35 years. Most importantly, Sharon was a child of God, and because of Him, she lived out His command to love others. Through her charisma, her laughter, her determination, and her joyful light, God’s love in her touched so many people.

“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Sharon was preceded in death by granddaughter, Norah Purkey; father, Clendon Blakeley; mother, Ruth Blakeley; father-in-law, Roy Thompson Purkey, Sr.; mother-in-law, Nancy Elizabeth Purkey; mother-in-law, Gladys Purkey; and brother, Robert “Bob” Blakeley. She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Roy Thompson “Tommy” Purkey, Jr.; son, Jonathan (Whitney) Purkey; son, Justin (Lisa) Purkey; son, Marc (Leslie) Purkey; daughter, Elizabeth (Jeff) Tharpe; and grandchildren Gracie, Mary Kate, Sarah, Mason, Jake, Sawyer, Dylan, Jack, JohnBlake, Grayson, Bennett, Lane, Isabella, Luke and Lucy; brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and a host of extended family and friends that she loved as her own.

A Celebration of Sharon’s life will be held on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., at the Donelson Church of Christ, 2706 Old Lebanon Road, Nashville, TN 37214. Visitation with the family will be Thursday, April 11, 2024, from 4:00-8:00 p.m. and Friday, April 12, 2024, from 11:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m, at the Donelson Church of Christ. A graveside burial will take place at Hermitage Memorial Gardens on Saturday, April 13th at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Donelson Church of Christ youth camp fund. Choose: one time gift/ activity fees/ church camp.

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