James Douglas Purl

James Douglas Purl Sr., aka Jimmy, 91 years old, passed away on July 24, 2024 at Valley View Assisted Living and Memory Care in Harlingen, Texas. Jimmy was born on August 16th, 1932 to Henry and Vicky Purl in Mercedes, Texas.

He loved playing high school football and was a 1950 graduate of Mercedes High School. After graduation he started delivering milk for Hygeia Dairy Company. It was at Hygeia Dairy that Jimmy met Merry Kay Richards, his beautiful bride and mother of their five children. Soon after, Jimmy was drafted by the U.S. Army and served his country for 6 years. After his Army active duty, he returned home to drive a Hygeia Dairy truck where he’d pick up milk from the dairy farms and deliver it back to the plant. Over the next 50 years or more, he had other job titles at Hygeia but he often mentioned that his favorite was driving the milk delivery truck and getting that cold milk to the children. Mr. Purl is survived by his ex-wife and friend, Merry Kay Richards, his children, James D. Purl Jr. (Maggie Garza), Scott Purl (Charlotte), Michael Purl (Cindy) Kathleen Browning, Heather Robinson (Robbie) brother-in-law John Martin (Lucy) grandchildren, Ashleigh LaRocca (David), Will Purl, Rebecca Diaz, Adam Alvarez, Brittany Adams (Clark), Courtney Purl, Nick Garza, Josh Purl (Riley), Jenna Purl, Tiffany and Angel Purl, Jacob Browning (Madison) Luke Browning (Savannah) Mack, Ashton and Merry Robinson, Great grandchildren-Cameron and Samuel LaRocca, Aribella Purl, Nathan Alvarez, Sophia and Olivia Diaz, Allie Adams, Madelynn Purl, Juniper and Shepard Purl and Ezra Browning.

A huge, heartfelt thank you to his caregivers and staff at Valley View Memory Care and also his Hospice nurses for their exceptional service while in their care.

Please join us for a memorial service to celebrate the life of our wonderful Jimmy Purl who will be greatly missed on Wednesday, August 7th @ 6:00 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 602 Morgan Blvd., Harlingen Tx