Daughter of George F. and Mary Ellen Purucker. She is survived by her husband Steve Cousins, brother Richard Purucker (Jan Marcason), sister Jane Clarke (Sandy Koufax), sister-in-law Ruth Youngs (Jeffery Youngs), sister-in-law Paula Lang (Larry Lang), brother-in-law John Cousins (Ruth Cousins) along with many cousins, 14 nieces and nephews and 20 grand-nieces and nephews who loved and admired her. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Mary Ellen Purucker and great-nephew Red Layne.
Ann was a lifelong lover of horses, planes, vintage cars and racing. She competed in numerous horse show events, rodeos and barrel racing since the age of 14. Her experience barrel racing horses gave her an advantage in the new sport of Autocross, racing cars around pylons. Originally racing her Triumph TR3, she became so good that car dealerships asked her to race their cars at Autocross from a Shelby Cobra to a Sunbeam Tiger. When women were not even allowed in the pits at Indy, Ann was invited to instruct drivers how to race mid-engine cars in Indianapolis.
Ann was a fearless race car driver, pilot, kayaker and entrepreneur. She began working in the family commercial holiday decoration business, Purucker Displays, as a teenager with the Plaza lights and the crowns that lit the downtown streets for many years. She took over the business after the death of her father, George Purucker, selling holiday decorations to many communities throughout the Midwest. Ann supported her mother Mary Ellen in countless philanthropic events.
She is survived by the love of her life Steve Cousins after 37 years together. Battling cancer for 18 years, the family would like to thank all of those at KU Medical Center for the years you gave us together. We would also like to thank the Staff of VNA for their kind hospice care at the end of her life.
A service will be held at the Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home in Kansas City, MO on Thursday January 18th, 3:00 pm. Visitation begins at 2:00 pm.
The Steeple of Light in the Frank Lloyd Wright Church on the Plaza will shine in honor of Ann January 19-21.
In lieu of flowers family suggests a donation to SUDC.org, Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
