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Arthur E. Purnell (61) died peacefully at the hospice center with his wife at his side on Thursday, August 20, 2009 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Art was born in Hackensack, NJ on August 11, 1948 and spent his childhood in Saddle Brook, NJ. After college, Art moved to St. Louis, Missouri where he was an elementary school teacher. It was there he met his wife of 34 years, Carol Kranawetter. Art also taught school in Miami, Florida and Oviedo, Florida. He received his RN nursing degree in 1983 and was an oncology nurse at Florida Hospital Medical Center in Orlando, Florida. Art also worked for a home care and hospice agency in Orlando. In 1992 Art and Carol moved to Gallup, NM where Art worked for Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital in the areas of home health and hospice. In 1994, Art was awarded the honor of Nurse of the Year by Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital. Art spent several years providing home health care on the Navajo Nation. Art and family moved to Albuquerque in 2000. More recently, Art worked as an RN in home care and hospice for the Lovelace Healthcare Systems. In 2005, he joined LifeMasters, a disease management company. Art's life as a teacher and a registered nurse was a life of caring and compassion for others. Art's interests included digital photography, day hiking and reading. He loved his family. Art was active in his church. He was a wonderful and caring husband, father and grandfather. Art was predeceased by his parents, Flora D. Purnell and Arthur E. Purnell Sr. Art is survived by his wife of 34 years, Carol. He is also survived by his daughter, Ruth Ann Murphy and husband, Michael; and granddaughter, Kaileigh Ann, of St. Petersburg, Florida. The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of LifeMasters, Presbyterian Home Health and Hospice and The New Mexico Cancer Center for their caring and support. Services will be held at Our Lady of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 2532 Vermont Avenue. A Rosary will be recited Friday morning September 18, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. Following a brief church reception, enichment of cremains will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Art's favorite charity: Medical Teams International P.O. Box 10 Portland, Oregon 97207-0010 www.medicalteams.org. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St, NW, ABQ, 87107. 505-343-8008.
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