Robert P. Purser

Funeral services for Robert P. Purser, age 78 of Ogdensburg will be held on Wednesday (Dec 27, 2017) at 11:00am at the Christ Church in Morristown with Rev. Ed Lacomb officiating. Military honors will be performed following the service. Interment will be at a later date at Foxwood Memorial Park.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 2:00-4:00pm & 6:00-8:00pm at the Fox & Murray Funeral Home. Mr. Purser passed away on Thursday (Dec 21st) at Claxton Hepburn Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

Surviving is his wife Wanda; three sons & their wives Toby & Ann Marie Boyea of Saratoga Springs, Mark & Tammy Hockler-Purser of Ogdensburg and Raymond & Charmaine Purser of Calgary, Alberta Canada; a step son John & Mariah Ferguson of Winston Salem, NC; step-daughters Annalise Given & fiancee' Jeff Grenier and Katie Cryderman & fiancee' Dennis Duford both of Ogdensburg; grandchildren Tonya Robinson, Tessa Boyea, Shandericka Purser & Ricky Stevenson, Kendra & Doug Young, Robert Purser & Katelyn Middlemiss, Lucas Purser, Brittanie Jones and Cody Jones; great grandchildren Bryson St. Germain, Kayle St. Germain, Landyss St. Germain, Camryn Purser, Alysse Young, Aliyah Purser; step-greatgrandchildren Dominic Given, Brendan Lesniak & Natalie Lesniak, Todd Demers, Jessica Dezalia; cousins Ron & Janet Purser of Brockville, Marie Bijuoni of Toronto Ontario and Nigel Purser of Vancouver British Columbia.

Bob was born on February 1, 1939 in Brockville Ontario and was the son of Gladys Purser. He attended Country Schools in Canada, and entered the Royal Canadian Navy at age 16 in June of 1957. He was stationed in Halifax, Nova Scotia and served during the Bay of Pigs Invasion. He sailed on the Great Lakes under George Steinbrenner who signed for his sponsored visa to become a US citizen. He then enlisted in the US Naval Reserves in February of 1976, followed by the US Army National Guard in 1991. He retired in February of 1999 after proudly serving in the military for 28 years.

A prior marriage to Sally (Bouchard) Purser ended, and he was later married to Wanda Harper on May 18, 2013.

During his career he was employed at Farrand’s Flowers as a landscaper, JL O’Connor Cigars as a distributor, Parish Oil Company as a tanker driver, and General Motors, Anchor Motor Freight & Walmart as a truck driver. After retirement, Bob volunteered for DAV Transportation and was awarded the longest committed driver where he took great pride in serving veterans.

Bob was a member of the Christ Episcopal Church in Morristown, St. John’s Episcopal Church in Ogdensburg, the Lisbon American Legion, The Ogdensburg Garden Club, Ogdensburg Command Performance and a former member of the Ogdensburg Moose Lodge. He enjoyed gardening, traveling, his home and friends in Florida, being with his children, grandchildren and his wife Wanda. Bob was an avid New York Yankee fan and was able to attend many games with Wanda while in Florida.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Ogdensburg Garden Club or the Richard Winter Cancer Center. Condolences can also be shared online at www.foxandmurrayfuneralhome.com.