Extracted from The Southwest Daily News (Sulphur, LA)
Friday, January 8, 2010

Kay (Emmons) Purvis

Kay Emmons Purvis died gracefully in her residence Wednesday, December 30, 2009 after a lengthy illness. Her family rejoices in the knowledge that she is now with her Lord and Savior.

She was born in Rapid City, South Dakota on February 26, 1947 to Ernest “Smokey” and Nadine Emmons. She was the oldest of three children and has one sister, Kathleen “Kathy” Cavaretta of Port Arthur, Texas, and one brother, William, “Bill” Emmons of Sulphur, Louisiana. At the age of five her family moved to Louisiana, however her heart stayed in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She was a graduate of Sulphur High and attended McNeese State University in her adult life.

Kay became a mother at a young age, successfully raising two children, Gary “Butch” Cole and Kimberly Herman, both of Carlyss, Louisiana, on her own.

She was a vibrant, vivacious, and productive woman who took pride in her work and the rearing of her children and grandchildren. She was driven and wanted to excel in all areas of her life.

She enjoyed reading, photography, exploring, and learning anything new. In her younger years she enjoyed horseback riding. Her sense of adventure led her to travel and experience sailing in Jamaica, snow skiing in Vail, and hot air ballooning and white water rafting in Colorado.

She volunteered for the Women's Rape Crisis Center and the Literary Council. Her favorite quote was, “We never touch people so lightly that we don't leave a trace.”

The latter part of her career was spent in the advertising market. She worked at Southwest Daily News with her final position being at the Lake Charles American Press.

She loved her family and spent the last four years of her life researching genealogy to find as many relatives as possible. She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her son, Gary “Butch” Cole; her daughter, Kim Herman and husband, Harold; four grandchildren, Cade Herman, Josh Herman, Brea Cole, and Timothy Harrell; three great-grandchildren; and both of her siblings.

She treasured her private life, so in her honor a private burial will be held in Custer, South Dakota this spring.