Teddy Joe Purcell, 67, of Waxahachie, passed away on July 16, 2014, after a long and courageous battle with multiple health issues. The memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Aug. 11, 2014, at the Waxahachie Civic Center. Pastor Pedro Eustaqio Tavares of Campinas São Paulo, Brazil, will give the eulogy. Gary Hamilton will officiate. The interment will be in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.

Ted was born in Fort Worth, Texas, the 10th child of the late William Moses Purcell and Emma Cordelia Hurlbert Purcell. He attended Monahans High School, graduated from Odessa High and received two bachelor's degrees from Sul Ross and UTPB and a M.Ed. from UTPB. Ted married Charlotte Kay Thompson on May 8, 1965. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years and was twice deployed to Vietnam. He was stationed on two destroyers, the U.S.S. Norris and the U.S.S. Lowery. He received an honorable discharge as a FTG 2, in Dec. 1968.

Early in his career, Ted worked for Texas Instruments in Dallas. He served as a missionary in Brazil for 10 years. After returning home, he pastored churches in West Texas while returning to school and becoming a public servant as a public educator. Ted worked for Crane ISD, Ector County ISD, and Presidio ISD. He finished his career serving for 12 years as the superintendent of Faith Family Academy Charter Schools in Waxahachie and Dallas. Ted always focused on enriching and serving others throughout his life as evidenced by his career choices.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Charlotte Kay Thompson Purcell; daughter, Mollie Jo Purcell; grandsons, Joseph Morley Savage and Christopher Charles Savage; brother, John Author Purcell; sister, Marjorie Purcell Smelser; extended family members and many friends.