Heather Christine Purcell

Aug. 20, 1957-July 29, 2022

Heather Christine Purcell passed away due to cancer on July 29, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Melbourne, Australia on, Aug. 20, 1957, to Aylwin William Griffin and Mary Ann Forsyth Wilson Griffin.

In 1975, at age 17, Heather came to the United States to attend Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, and there met her future husband Robert Purcell. They married on Dec. 19, 1978, in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She graduated the same year with a bachelor of ccience degree in Medical Technology from Brigham Young University.

One year later, they moved to Japan for an adventure and worked for 18 months teaching English. While there, their first child Daniel was born. Their second child Jennifer (Jai) was born in Provo, Utah, where they lived while Bob completed a graduate degree. In 1985 she moved with her young family, while pregnant with their third child, back to Japan. Todd was born four months later. Two children were “made in Japan” and her only American-born child was born on the 4th of July.

Heather loved Japan, became fluent in Japanese and made many lifelong friends. After six years in Japan, she and her family moved to Hawaii to live in paradise. Heather loved the ocean, the flowers and the beauty of Hawaii. Heather had a gift to create beauty and art. She expressed her gifts through gardening, sewing, crafting, floral arrangements, and quilting.

In 1994, after four years in paradise, she and her family moved to St. George, Utah. She loved St. George. Her gift and passion for color, creativity and quilting opened the way for her to design products that are known throughout the world. One of her greatest accomplishments was, together with Bob, starting and growing Superior Threads into a worldwide company.

She leaves a legacy of thousands of friends around the world, a passion for quality and beauty and overflowing love for her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband Robert Purcell; her children Daniel (Emily), Jai Benson (Travis) and Todd (Maricel); and 12 grandchildren.

Her family expresses gratitude to Dr. Brian Tudor at Intermountain Healthcare St. George Cancer Center for his compassionate care.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bloomington Stake Center, 200 West Brigham Road, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Friday, Aug. 5, 6-8 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 W St George Blvd. and Saturday 9:30-10:30 a.m. prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the Tonaquint Cemetery located at 1777 S Dixie Dr, St. George.

For those who are unable to attend, click here view the service via Zoom.

Arrangements are under the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221. Visit the Metcalf Mortuary website for condolences, complete obituary and funeral listings.

Last December was Bob and Heather’s 43rd anniversary. Bob created a photo book with highlights of their journey together. He wrote the following verses to go with the photos and gave the book to Heather on Dec. 19, 2021.

43rd anniversary Poem from Bob to Heather

Dec. 19, 2021 (with additional lines added July 2022)

Forty-three years ago, a day in December,
A new beginning. I’ll always remember.

It’s been a great journey, with much yet to go.
We used to move fast, but we’re starting to slow.

I’m in a boot and you’re in a wig,
Together we go through this mortality gig.

It’s forty-three years as two living as one,
Our lives have been blessed with adventures and fun.

It started in Provo, then moved to Japan,
Where first child Daniel joined the clan.

Then back to Provo for more BYU,
When Jenny was born, our children, now two.

The future looked bright, the world wide open,
We got on a plane and moved over the ocean.

Again to Japan; we had done this before,
But this time was different, as a family of four.

But four not for long, Todd was soon to arrive,
In a city called Kainan we became a family of five.

For the next many years we worked and we played,
Month after month, what memories we made!

Australia, Hong Kong, Hawaii, and more,
New places to visit; the world to explore.

After six years in Japan, it was so clear to see,
There was another place to go, and felt we should be.

But where shall we go? And what shall we do?
The world is wide open, and choices, not few.

Over the years we took many fun vacations,
And one place stood out as a favorite location.

The beauty? Most stunning. The weather? So nice.
No wonder so many call it the best Paradise.

Hawaii it is. Another dream to come true,
Sayonara Japan. With Aloha we flew.

The flowers, the beaches, the weather, so grand.
Never had we seen such a beautiful land.

Four years in paradise, where has time gone?
But again those feelings, “It’s time to move on.”

Warm weather, small town, little rain was the plan.
From Texas to Oregon, where would we land?

St. George was our choice, our new home and more.
So we moved from Hawaii in July ‘ninety-four.

Our first sixteen years, we lived in eight homes,
In America, Japan, and Hawaii we roamed.

The last twenty-seven years our lovely abode,
Has been in St. George, on Sugar Leo Rd.

Our children grew up in Superior circumstances,
Blessed with good friends, opportunities, and unlimited chances.

Our children have married. Excellent spouses — all three.
And live in St. George, and bless you and me.

Twelve grandchildren surround us, what joy they bring!
They make us feel like a queen and a king.

Serious challenges, this year has brought,
With never a complaint, with faith you have fought.

Blessings are flowing. Miracles we’ve seen.
Tho’ Covid hit you hard, and left senses not so keen.

The future is bright. More happy times ahead.
Walking side by side, our lives to be led.

Forty-three years with Heather, I could want nothing more.
Everyday I love you. Ever more than before.

(Added July 2022)

And then you were called home in July 2022.
Without my dear Heather, what will I do?

I’ll love you. I’ll think of you, even though we’re apart,
Everywhere I go, everything I do, you will be in my heart.

Until that great day, when my life is complete.
Heaven’s gates will again open, and there we will meet.

Our journey will continue, how happy we’ll be.
As we walk hand in hand, into eternity.

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!