Dewey James Purkey, 79, of Sweetwater, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009, at Sweetwater Hospital.

A native of Loudon County, a former resident of McMinn County, and a resident of Sweetwater for three years, he was a son of the late James Isaac and Violet Augusta Freels Purkey. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Wilma Barbee Purkey; one brother, Robert Grubb; and one sister, Pauline Grubb. He was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church and a former deacon of East Athens Baptist Church. He was a Jewell Tea salesman and the former owner of Purkey\'s Office Supply. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, having been Worshipful Master of Meridian Sun Lodge 50. He was a member of York Rite, receiving the Distinguished Honor of Knights of the York Cross of Honor (K.Y.C.H.) in 1996 and was York Rite secretary/recorder from 1996 to 2003.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Ruth Harvey Purkey of Sweetwater; one son and daughter-in-law, David Robert and Mary Jane Purkey of Athens; one daughter and son-in-law, Ann Purkey and Aaron Billings of Niota; one sister, Evelyn Ettinger of Madison Heights, Mich.; two grandchildren, Nicholas Purkey and Laura Purkey; one sister-in-law, Glenda Jolly of Knoxville; two brothers-in-law, Junior Barbee and Mayford Barbee, both of Jefferson City; two nephews and one spouse, Tim Jolly and Tony and Amanda Jolly; two great-nieces, Madison and Brooklyn Jolly; and several other nieces and nephews.

Masonic services will be 7:45 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Meridian Sun Lodge 50 officiating. Funeral services will follow with the Rev. Johnny Carr and the Rev. Phillip Murphy officiating. Burial will be 2 p.m. Sunday in McMinn Memory Gardens.

Active pallbearers will be Tim Jolly, Tony Jolly, Gary Harvey, Wayne Harvey, Terry Billings and Johnny Helton.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7:45 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Window Fund of Etowah First Baptist Church, 824 Washington Ave., Etowah, TN 37331.

Those not able to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com