Mary "Laura" Strunk's Obituary
Mary 'Laura' (Bryant Purvis) Strunk went to be with the Lord on Monday, November 30, 2009 at the Continental Care Center at Seymour, Iowa at the age of 86 years, 1 month and 16 days.Laura was born the second of nine children to David 'Reo' and Bessie Bly (Harl) Bryant on October 14, 1923 in Franklin Township, Appanoose County, Iowa. Her early years of education were spent at Fairview School in Franklin Township, and she graduated from Seymour High School in 1941.On May 20, 1943, in Unionville, Missouri, Laura married Clarence 'Oral' Purvis. He died October 2, 1944 while serving his country during World War II with the U.S. Army in France.On April 22, 1951, Laura married Robert Glenn Strunk at Simpson Chapel in Franklin Township, Appanoose County, Iowa. To this union were born three children: Barbara Ann, Gayle Marie and Daniel Robert. Bob and Laura spent their entire married life in Appanoose and Wayne Counties. Their first home was northeast of Unionville, then on the Strunk home farm southeast of Moravia. From 1962 to 1966 they lived on a farm west of Sewal, then moved to their farm north of Moulton, from which they retired and moved to Centerville in 1989. In 2006 they moved to Seymour.Laura was a country school teacher at Fairview School for two years and at South Wilson School for one year. She was an assistant and receptionist in the offices of Drs. Charles and Mary Wheeler in Centerville for five years. After her second marriage, she stayed home for many years to nurture and raise her children. In 1967 she graduated from Centerville Community College School of Practical Nursing and was employed as an LPN at Davis County Hospital in Bloomfield, Iowa for nineteen years until her retirement in 1986. She also spent may summer hours gardening and canning. She was a loving, selfless wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.At the age of 13 Laura accepted Christ as her personal Savior, professed her faith in Him and followed Him in baptism at Franklin Baptist Church in Livingston, Iowa. She delighted in Christian fellowship and serving the Lord in various ways in the communities in which she lived. She enjoyed singing with small groups and sometimes served as pianist in the 1940's and 50's at Simpson Chapel and at Miller Baptist Church. She especially enjoyed Christian music of family, friends and congregations. Since 1966 she had been a member of Unionville Baptist Church at Unionville, Iowa, where she enjoyed the fellowship of the people there and the Ladies Missionary Fellowship group.While residing at the care center, she was an active participant in the activities provided there, taking particular delight in church services, Bible study, musical entertainment and story time.Laura is survived by her husband, Robert 'Bob' of Seymour; their children; Barbara (Henry) Adams of Seymour, Gayle (Steve) Davenport of Coatsville, Missouri, and Danny (Pam) Strunk of Moulton; four grandchildren: Amy (Scott) DeVore of Seymour, Joshua (Tara) Davenport of Spencer, Iowa, Molly Davenport of Coatsville, Missouri and Ruth Adams of Seymour and six great-grandchildren: Sydney, Madison and Denver DeVore and Jodi, Wendi, and Clayton Davenport. She is also survived by two sisters: Vivian Cleeton of Richmond, Virginia and Mildred (Don) Kerr of Bella Vista, Arkansas; four brothers: Harry (Jan) Bryant of Lincoln, Arkansas, Raymond (Gloria) Bryant of Farmington, Arkansas, Don (Sue) Bryant of Jackson, Tennessee and Arthur (Mary Jane) Bryant of Indianola, Iowa and a sister-in-law, Lee Bryant of Chesterfield, Missouri. Many nieces and nephews also survive her.Laura was preceded in death by her first husband, Oral Purvis, her parents, Reo and Bessie Bryant, two granddaughters, Rachel and Sarah Adams, her brother, David Ernest Bryant, her sister, Mabel Smith, two brothers-in-law, Harold Smith and Chuck Cleeton, and a sister-in-law, Shirley Bryant.Funeral Services will be held Friday, December 4, 2009 at 11:00 am at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville, Iowa with Pastor Joshua Davenport officiating. Burial will follow at the Eaton Cemetery near Unionville, Iowa. Visitation will be held Thursday, December 3, 2009 from 1-8 pm with the family present from 6-8 pm at the funeral home.Memorials can be made to Eaton Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Mary "Laura" Strunk please visit our Sympathy Store.
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