Mary Purkey

Mary Norris Purkey, 81, of Ooltewah, passed away Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014. A lifelong resident of the Chattanooga area, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Leon Norris (42 years) and Bill Purkey (18 years); parents, Frank Joseph Cherry and Viola Cherry Hardy; grandson, Brian Morrow Jr.; great-granddaughter, Summer Smith; and sisters, Willie Mae Hampton, Irene Pell and Gertrude Dortch. She is survived by her daughters, Patricia Norris Davis, Sandra Norris (Clarence) Turner and Sonya Norris Morrow who say their Mother was like the Mark Twain quote: "My Mother had a slender, small body, but a large heart - a heart so large that everybodys joys found welcome in it, and hospitable accommodations."; grandchildren, Travis Davis, Brent Davis, Roger Smith, Donnie Smith, Amanda Sullivan, Micah Morrow and Chad Morrow; great-grandchildren, Casey and Shelby Davis, Dakota, Jordan and Olivia Davis, Winter and Hunter Smith, Drew Morrow, Jaxon Morrow and Hunter Collins; sisters, Virginia (Herman) Smith and Mildred Callahan; brother, Jim (Diane) Cherry; sister-in-law, Pauline Allen; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services are 1 p.m. Friday in the chapel with burial at Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park. Please visit www.lanefh.com to share condolences. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Thursday and after 11 a.m. Friday at Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace, 423-877-3524.