Vernon Neal Purdy

Neal was the first born child to Ivan & Sylvia Purdy, Jan. 28, 1918, in Dacoma Oklahoma. His sister, Lois was born in 1920. In 1924 the family moved to Inglewood, CA. His brother Don was born in 1926 and Billy in 1929. Neal finished Inglewood High School at age 16 and with no jobs available, joined the CCC’s and went to a camp in the Sequoias, living in tent #21 for 6mo.

The family moved to the Eatonville area in 1935. Work was scarce and usually short lived at that time with Neal and his Dad finding work at a Tie Mill on Kreger Lake starting out at $1a day for both of them. He worked at Clay City, Eatonville Mill, digging holes and setting poles for the Power Company and finally getting on with Mudd Mtn. Dam as night watchman. He had met the love of his life, Olive Johnson thru the Kapowsin High school events his siblings’ were involved in. In October of 1939, his youngest brother Billie, 10years old, died; married Olive (AL) December 16,1939; given a wedding present of membership into the IBEW; and the Monday after getting married had a job with Puget Sound Power in Renton. He and Al started their family with Linda being born Dec.21st, 1941 and Diane, May 7th 1944. They bought an unfinished house at the base of Ehli Hill in Sumner which Neal worked on in his spare time, adding on to the kitchen, a front porch, a back patio and a garage along with working for the Power Co. in Puyallup. He taught Hot Stick classes, was instrumental in getting safety protocols thru legislation in Olympia, was an IBEW Union Rep attending the National IBEW Convention in Miami in 1951.

He and his folks bought a section of land above Alder Lake in 1941 and by 1952 he had a cabin with electricity for the family to move into. He built the big house, finishing the basement in mid 1956, Pam was born on his birthday in January of 1957 and he finished the upstairs in 1959. By this time, he was working for the City of Tacoma at the Nisqually Hydro Project, working his way from Tram Operator, to Oiler, then Operator, and the Supervisor. He retired in 1981 after working for 23 years for the City of Tacoma. He was able to enjoy the farm, catching up on put-off projects, take trips to Reno, and visiting with family and friends.

Al saw an advertisement for a new development, “The Country”, in Graham, and on the opening day, they went to investigate and fell in love with a lot overlooking Mt. Rainier. They put money down and over the next 10 years designed a new home, advertised the farm, paid off the lot, sold the farm, had the house built and in 1989 moved into their dream home.

Neal was a gentle man, who loved his family, mentoring and teaching us on his journey thru life. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Billy (1939) and his brother, Don (2008). He is survived by his sister, Lois Ohlund; his daughters, Linda Gardiner, Diane (Bobby) Arnold and Pam (Don) Chambers; grandchildren, Bill Gardiner, jr, (Maure), Dave Cornish, Darrell Cornish, Alyssa (Steven) Olveda, & Breanne (Reece) Wasson; great-grandchildren, Aulstin (Jennifer) Gardiner, Justin (Kaleigh) Gardiner, Nic Gardiner, Amanda (Roy) Henson, Randi (Kyle) Bickhard, Houstin Gardiner, Rhett & Olivia Wasson, and Selena Olveda; great-great grandchildren, William Henson, Jack Bickhard & Ezra Gardiner: and many nieces, nephews and good friends.

His family would like to thank the wonderful caregivers, Mary, Winnie, & Beatrice who loved him, took excellent care of him & made his last 6 weeks honorable.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society or the IBEW NW JATC Training fund, 9817 NE 54th St. Suite 101, Vancouver, WA 98662.