Gabe M. Purvis, age 94, husband of Marsha H. Purvis for 58 years, passed away at home on June 25 surrounded by loved ones and Hospice caretakers. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 18, 2026 at St. James-Santee Episcopal Church, McClellanville, SC at 10:00 am.  A reception will follow at Morrison House.

Born January 17, 1932, in Purvis, MS, he was the son of the late Gabriel Tice Purvis and Nobie Irene Purvis. Raised on a 40-acre cotton farm, he was the oldest of three sons. He served in the Army during the Korean War in a Combat Engineer Battalion where he was awarded a written commendation from the division commander.

Gabe graduated from the LSU School of Forestry in 1956. During the summers he worked on the Louisiana Gulf Coast as a roughneck for Humble Oil, producer of several oil wells, one of which was the deepest in the world. After graduation he joined Bowater Inc. as a forester working in five southern states. For two decades he directed the procurement of wood for the Catawba South Carolina Paper Complex, retiring in 1993.

Gabe and Marsha moved to McClellanville just after the devastation of Hugo where he was soon asked by the town to inventory and begin the restoration of the urban tree canopy. This project led to the establishment of the tree committee and the Memorial Tree Program, resulting in the planting and nurturance of more than 150 public trees honoring members and friends of the community. In 2019 he was the recipient of the Rutledge B. Leland III Citizenship Award for exceptional service to the community, including the establishment of a viable Purple Martin Colony in the village.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two brothers, Howell H. Purvis (Mary Ann) of Purvis, MS, and Gerald T. Purvis (Anita) of Lithia, FL, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. James-Santee Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 123, McClellanville, SC 29458 or Lutheran Hospice, 1885 Rifle Range Road, Suite 46, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464.

Arrangements are by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. A memorial message may be sent to the family on our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com.

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