Shirley Purdy Westphal

Shirley P Westphal 1925 - 2025

Shirley Aimeé Purdy Westphal was born December 25, 1925, to Gerald Purdy and Ruth Gautier Purdy in Pascagoula, MS as their first child. She died peacefully on December 30, 2025 at the age of 100 at the Sanctuary House in Moss Point, MS.

She was preceded in death by her parents, all her siblings and their spouses; Doris Witchen (Bobby), Jerry Purdy (Margie Moore and Ann Small), Beverly Walker (Alvie), and Butch Purdy (Jackie Wimberly); her husband of 60 years, Arsene Oswald Westphal, her son Steve Westphal, and her grandson Eric Westphal. She is survived by 5 of her 6 children: Daniel Westphal (Carolyn), Michael Westphal (Denise), Karen Westphal, Becky Butler (Terry), and Tami Westphal Do; 12 of her 13 grandchildren Tonya, Donna, Ken, Jason, Connie, Dustin, Elliot, Hayley, Darcy, Krystal, Matthew, Joshua, Patrick; 15 great grandchildren, Emmalee, Barrett, Dylan, Taylor, Macey, Jesse, Henry, Jane, Allie, Isabella, Cameron, Addison, Jenna, Jada, and Riley; and 2 great-great grandchildren, Lincoln and Owen.

Shirley met her spouse when she was 11 and he was 16, they courted through World War II and were married upon his honorable discharge in 1945. Before marriage she worked at the Pascagoula Post Office and did not work after marriage until her last child was in school when she worked at Wright’s Frame Shop on Ingalls Avenue. When Arsene retired from the International Paper Co., she also retired, and they spent their sunset years traveling and visiting their children.

She loved her family and would go to great lengths to do anything for them. She was a great example of resilience, resourcefulness, and endless love.

From the beginning, she was an outdoorswoman, constructing treehouses, swimming, fishing, boating and camping. She fostered this love of the outdoors to her children with Arsene by taking them all on camping trips across the US every summer and trips to the MS barrier islands on various boats owned by family members, and spending summers camping at Bluff Creek on family land.

She was an artist sketching very accurate portraits of her favorite actresses and discovered painting in her middle years and painted portraits of each of her children, with a portrait of Monsignor P.J. Carey that was sent to hang in Ireland. She produced many seascapes and landscapes, winning many ribbons at the county fair for pictures or for her fabric work.  Her artistry extended to pottery, quilting, sewing, including doll clothes, and monogramming the original way, with her hands guiding the design and her knee setting the stitch width and we all know her love of photography.  She was never without a camera.

She and Arsene were very active in the Magnolia Bowling League all her life and bowled into her 80s. They also were very active with the RV Winnebago Club.

She spent her last years at the Sanctuary House in Moss Point where she was provided exceptional top-quality care until the time of her death.

She will be missed by all.

Visitation will be Saturday, January 3, 2026, 10:00-11:00am at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula.  The funeral service will begin at 11:00am in the funeral home chapel with Deacon Vicki Miller officiating interment will follow at Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula.

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