Olga Erna Ruth Puryear

Olga Erna Ruth Puryear, our dear mother, grandmother and beloved friend to so many, was called to rest by our Heavenly Father on October 18, 2005. Olga was born in Giddings, Texas on January 5, 1924, the daughter of Otto and Lillie Fischer. She and her family moved from their farm in Manheim, Texas to Austin in 1937. Later while working at the soda fountain at Rexall Drug Store on 12th & Guadalupe, Olga met and later married Earnest Frank Puryear on August 21, 1942 in New Orleans, LA. They were married 54 years. Olga was preceded in death by her parents Otto Fischer and Lillie Puryear; her sister, Ruby Hobbs of Thorndale, Texas; and by her husband, Earnest Frank Puryear of Driftwood, Texas in 1996. She is survived by her daughters, Barbara and husband Jim Bourland of Bastrop, Texas, Nancy Brown, Phyllis Puryear, both of Austin; four grandchildren, Guy Bourland, Mardi Brown, and Jordan Brown of Austin, and Tina Lockhart of Florence, Texas; three great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; brother, Johnny Fischer of Brenham, Texas. After working for over 20 years in the bookkeeping department at Capital National Bank (now J.P. Morgan Chase Bank), Olga Puryear retired and resided in Dripping Springs with her husband, Earnest. They later moved to Driftwood, Texas where they lived for many years. Olga was always a very devoted daughter spending much time helping with her mother’s care, and at the same time, taking care of her own family. She continued to be active in many areas of her life including her long-standing work with RSVP (Retired & Sr. Volunteer Program of Travis County), as well as her volunteer work at The Old Bakery in downtown Austin. Over the years, The Old Bakery awarded Olga Puryear with two gold pins for her valued and extensive participation as a volunteer. She thoroughly enjoyed making the many arts and crafts contributions to The Old Bakery on a monthly basis. Her quality and creative homemade crafts and designs were very popular and sold throughout the Texas hill country for many years. Occasionally, many customers would call upon Olga to hand sew items, and she did so with great joy and enthusiasm. She also served on the Mop & Hammer committee for 11 years at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, and her love of gardening, masonry work, antiquing and sewing kept her very busy and content. She truly believed that “busy hands were happy hands.” A long time and active member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Olga will be remembered for her enduring faith and the tremendous joy she took in giving and sharing at every opportunity in her life. Olga has left us with many wonderful gifts which included her boundless love of life, the warmth and goodwill she showed to everyone who knew and loved her, and her energetic spirit to live each day to the fullest. She possessed a delightful sense of humor, enormous wit, and a keen sense of “know how.” She was an inspiration to her family and many friends, and her presence will be missed more than any of us can begin to imagine. Olga Puryear was a true blessing in all of our lives, and we are all deeply comforted in knowing that she is now reunited with the beloved members of her family who have gone before her to God’s Heavenly Kingdom. The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff of Brackenridge Hospital for their deep compassion and professional care given to our mother during the last few days of her life. Visitation will be held from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm on Thursday, October 20, at Wilke-Clay-Fish Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, October 21, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at Assumption Cemetery. Following the services the family will receive friends in the church parlor. Memorial contributions may be made to the Olga Puryear Endowment Fund, c/o St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, 606 West 15th Street, Austin, Texas 78701-1514. Memorials and guestbook online at wcfish.com