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Rosanna Purdy
In Memory of
Rosanna
Purdy
1942 - 2021
Memorial Candle Tribute From
Jackson's Funeral Homes Inc.
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Obituary for Rosanna Purdy

Rosanna  Purdy

One of Newport's most beloved citizens, Rosanna (Massey) Purdy, passed away quietly at home Sunday morning. Rosanna and her husband John were best known for their operation over many years of Purdy's Flowers and Gifts, Inc. Rosanna developed the gifts portion of Purdy's and worked long hours beside John to make their store a favorite destination for shoppers from all over Arkansas.

Born in Jonesboro to Ellen Hays Barber and Ernest Massey, Rosanna graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1961. She also attended Arkansas State University, where she was a charter member of the Omicron Zeta Chapter of the Chi Omega Sorority.

Rosanna and John first met at the famous Silver Moon Club in Newport. After they married in 1964, she went to work at The Eva Graham Dress Shop downtown and then joined John in what had been, since 1931, Purdy's Flower Shop. Married for 52 years, Rosanna and John had two children, Hanna and Rob, and a granddaughter, Joie.

Rosanna and her Purdy’s staff introduced Newport to many high-end brands and products that formerly had been available to Newport shoppers
only in larger cities. Blessed with elegant taste, and a penchant for cleanliness, Rosanna elevated the standards of her shoppers. Always gracious and lovely, she also had an impish sense of humor, and she was a lot of fun, as was attested to by her many invitations to play Bridge and Mahjong, two of her favorite diversions.

In addition to helping run the store and raising her children, Rosanna was very active in the community; she was a member and past president of the PEO Sisterhood, Chapter R, she led Girl’s and Boy’s Scout troops, was a Methodist youth leader, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher, served on the Methodist Church Finance Committee, Methodist Women’s Group and The Jackson County Historical Society Board of Directors; she also volunteered her talents in numerous other civic groups.

Newport shoppers dearly anticipated Purdy's big sale the day after Christmas, when Rosanna and John discounted all of that year's holiday decorations. Rosanna was always there running one of the registers, having worked until store closing on Christmas Eve, hosted and produced her own family's celebration, and risen before dawn to transform the store into a sale shopper's paradise. Many area families built lovely collections out of Rosanna's inspired buying and John's fabulous sales.

Rosanna and John were a team in every sense of the word, and their town was enriched by their presence in it. Among the many who will mourn her absence are her children, her granddaughter and her little buddy, Nate.

Mrs. Purdy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John Robert Purdy, Jr.; her brothers-in-law, George C. Frazier and Charles “Chuck” Berger; and her son-in-law, Tod Dickinson. She is survived by one daughter, Sushanna “Hanna” Purdy Dickinson of Newport; one son, John Robert “Rob” Purdy, III, of Newport, one granddaughter, Jo Ellen “Joie” Dickinson of Newport; one brother, Ernest Massey and wife Rhonda, of Round Rock Texas; one sister, Mary Jane Frazier of Jonesboro; one sister-in-law, Jane Purdy Berger of Naples, Florida; nieces and nephews, Cary Berger and wife, Lauren Zuckerman; Elizabeth Berger; Michael Massey and wife, Misty; Valerie Fred and husband, Dan; Jane Ellen Newman and husband, Greg; David Massey; Georganne Comish and husband, Ian; several great-nieces and nephews, and a lifetime of wonderful friends.

Friends may visit at the funeral home, Thursday, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Friday at the First United Methodist Church.
Serving as pallbearers will be Cary Berger, Delbert Coburn, Joe DuPree, David Massey, Mike Massey, Dr. Joe David Smith, David Stewart, Eric Shoffner, and Mike Turner. Recognized as honorary pallbearers are former Purdy’s staff, Chapter R PEO Sisters, David Hodges, Phil McDonald, Toby McDonald, and Jim McLarty. Interment will follow at Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Walnut Grove Cemetery Association, Inc. or the W. A. Billingsley Memorial Library.
Arrangements by Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home.
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