Ann Stow Purchis

Ann was born and raised in Lansing, MI. She met her future husband Ira when they were at Walter French Junior High School. Ann said she first noticed Ira while taking roll in homeroom and looked to see who he was because she’d never heard the name Ira. Ira noticed Ann because she was the smartest one in the class and was up front with the teacher. Their first date was the 9th Grade Prom, where, during the intermission program, Ira moved to the sidelines as Ann was announced Queen of the prom and then led the promenade with the King—a friend of his since Cub Scouts. Ann graduated from Walter French as Valedictorian and went on to Sexton High School, where she was President of the Honor Society and was also Valedictorian. She then went on to the University of Michigan and received a BA in English in June of 1961.

She and Ira married on June 24, 1961. In 1963 they moved to southern California where they started a family and lived for 13 years. They also lived in northern Virginia for 3 years before returning to Michigan in 1979.

During all these relocations, Ann was a wonderful full-time homemaker. When the family returned to Michigan, Ann worked at Executive Group in Detroit and then at the State Employees Credit Union in Lansing until she retired in 2006. She was a longtime member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Lansing, the same church in which she married her beloved husband.

Ann enjoyed sewing and needlework. An excellent seamstress, she took great pride in making a wide array of clothing for herself and her family. She also enjoyed gardening and took special care of her flower garden, especially her admired roses. Ann and Ira enjoyed traveling, visiting national parks from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, and walking along beaches on both the Pacific and Atlantic.

Ann is survived by her husband of 62 years, Ira Purchis; daughters, Cathy Purchis and Chris (Tobin Hissong) Purchis; step-grandson, Jeff Hissong; brother, Bob (Ruth) Stow; sister, Jean (Shane) Bolley; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her sister, Mary Jane Kibby and her parents, Gordon and Catherine Stow.

A memorial service for Ann will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023 at 11:00 AM, with a one-hour prior visitation from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home Lansing Chapel, 900 E Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48912. Following the service, there will be an urn committal at Evergreen Cemetery, 2600 E Mount Hope Ave., Lansing, MI 48910.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ann's memory may be made to Alzheimer's Association, 225 N Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or to CorsoCare Hospice, 950 Corporate Office Dr., Suite 150, Milford, MI 48381.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.grlansing.com for the Purchis family.