Obituaries : * Doris Jean Purcell; Longtime Insurance Worker

Doris Jean Purcell, a 30-year Ventura resident and longtime employee in the insurance industry, has died. She was 56.

A native of Charleston, W. Va., Purcell died at her home after a lengthy illness, said her daughter, Dawn Dimanno of Ventura.

Purcell moved to Ventura because she wanted to be closer to her late sister, Elda Sue Edwards, Dimanno said. Described as a dedicated employee, Purcell worked for the State Compensation Insurance Fund for 25 years. She retired as assistant claims manager last year.

In her free time, Purcell enjoyed the outdoors and bowling. Every year, she would take a river-rafting trip either to the Sacramento or Colorado rivers. She also enjoyed camping and was a member of several bowling leagues in Ventura County.

In addition to her daughter, she is survived by sisters Betty Tilton of Palm Desert and Marilyn Hendrickson of Hesperia; brothers Tom Thornton of La Quinta, James Thornton of Victorville and David Thornton of Lead, S. D., and three granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held at noon Wednesday at Ted Mayr Funeral Home in Ventura. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura. In addition, the family will hold a “celebration” of Purcell’s memory at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall, 3801 Market St., Ventura, shortly after the services, Dimanno said.

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Beck, Helen Wallace, 93, of Oxnard, retired secretary. Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Corona, Elodia Gloria, 53, of Ventura, homemaker. Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home, Ventura.

Hoeppel, Norma Elizabeth, 80, of Ojai, homemaker. Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

Kuenzly, Ingeborg E., 84, of Ojai, homemaker. Clausen Funeral Home, Ojai.

MacFarlane, Hannah F., 73, of Camarillo, retired bookkeeper. Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary, Camarillo.

Ordaz, Frank, 72, of Oxnard, retired supervisor at the Naval Construction Battalion Center, Port Hueneme. James A. Reardon Funeral Home, Oxnard.

Stewart, Paul, 44, aircraft mechanic. James A. Reardon Funeral Home, Oxnard.

Yates, Lawrence Jesse, 68, of Ventura, retired traffic engineer. Ted Mayr Funeral Home, Ventura.

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Ventura County obituaries are published free of charge as a public service to readers. Obituaries are based on information provided by mortuaries.