Richard Purcell

Richard B. Purcell

Richard B. Purcell, age 73, from Layton, Utah, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2014 at the Rocky Mountain Care Center in Clearfield, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Rich, as he was known to all, was born, June 28, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah to parents Richard Lynwood Purcell and Mabel Argyle. He has 3 surviving sisters, Jeanine Parish (Brent), Shawna Taylor (Tom) and Michele McClain (Mike). As the oldest and only boy he not only protected and teased his younger sisters, he also managed to give them lasting life advice, “keep your a** under the signs, and the grease beneath you”, in other words, follow the directions and stay on the path.

Rich worked for the railroad in Nevada and moved with his family all through the northern half with his job. After a decade or so, he changed jobs, started driving an 18 wheeler, and moved his family back to his hometown of Layton, Utah, living in the same home for 38 years, where he and his neighbor and friends, Kay and Carol, had a great arrangement with the garbage cans. Rich enjoyed riding his ATV and managed to put nearly 5000 miles on one of them during his stays in Arizona for the winter. He liked spending time outdoors, camping, riding, fishing, hunting and just traveling though.

Rich was married in February 1961 and is survived by his ex-wife Kaylene, and 4 children, Debra (Steve), Frank, Jeff (Lynn) and Richard C. (Dee). He leaves with 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grand-children. Each of them left with different life experiences from him, but all knowing he was to be buried with his boots on.

Rich is preceded in death by his parents, Richard Lynwood Purcell and Mabel A. Purcell, son-in-law Steven (Steve) Petersen, and daughter-in-law, Delena (Dee) Purcell.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, September 2, 2014, at 11 a.m. at Lindquist’s Memorial Park at Layton, 1867 N. Fairfield Road, Layton Utah.

Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Layton Mortuary, 1867 No. Fairfield Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Huntsman Cancer Institute.