Stephen "Steve" Merritt Purington, 79, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 18, 2026. Born on October 3, 1946, in Gardiner, Maine, Steve was the son of the late Charles Edmund and Gertrude Straight Purington.
Following high school, Steve proudly served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, where he distinguished himself in sharpshooting during his military service.
Steve was blessed to find the love of his life, Betty Jane. Together, they blended two families into one and shared 40 wonderful years together surrounded by love, faith, and family. They were devoted members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Loris, where their faith remained the foundation of their lives.
For over 26 years, Steve served as Supervisor of Public Works for the City of North Myrtle Beach. He was highly respected and admired by his coworkers and employees for his strong work ethic, leadership, and willingness to help others.
Steve was an outdoorsman at heart who loved shooting, hunting, fishing, and traveling to Maine for big game hunting over the years.
He loved being outside, whether he was working in his barn, mowing his grass, gardening, or growing all kinds of vegetables that family and friends always looked forward to enjoying. Over the years, he also enjoyed taking road trips to Nebraska to visit his daughter and her family, making memories together.
He had a true gift for repairing and fixing things. Whether it was lawnmowers, cars, or just about anything that needed attention, Steve enjoyed working with his hands and finding a way to make things work again. He was the person family and friends could always count on when something needed repaired.
Steve also had a special love for animals throughout his life. He was especially known for taming wild and feral cats, earning the nickname "the cat whisperer" from his family because of his incredible ability to gain their trust. He also dearly loved the many dogs he cared for through the years, and animals always seemed naturally drawn to him.
Surviving, in addition to his wife Betty, are his children, Teri Linn Rice (John), Michael Akel (Jennifer), and Mark Akel (Catheryn); grandchildren, Keefer Rice, Kole Rice, Sarah Corrine (Justin) Rutter, Stephen Akel, William Akel, Hannah Kate Akel, Thomas Akel, Elizabeth Akel; and great-grandson, Jackson Stephen Rutter. Steve is also survived by his brother-in-law, Thomas Malcolm Cartwright, and sisters-in-law, Linda Workman and Lois Ann Medlin. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Ronnie Purington and George Purington, and his sister, Judy Moore.
A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 2102 Pleasant Grove Road, (on the corner of Pleasant Grove Rd. and W. Bear Grass Rd.) Loris, SC 29569. The family will receive friends from noon until 1:00 p.m. at the church prior to the service. A military funeral and burial will follow at Southern Palms Memorial Gardens, 5000 Highway 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Please share memories and condolences at www.leefhandcrematory.com
