Marvin Lloyd Puryear

Marvin Lloyd Puryear made his journey Home safely, peacefully, and with Semper FI dignity on June 15, 2018 in Scottsdale, AZ. He was born to Harmon Lloyd and Euela Mae Puryear on March 4,1925 in Bentonville, Arkansas. It was a great place to start a life and made famous by Sam Walton (Walmart). He lived his young, adventurist life in AR, OK and TX with his 3 younger sisters Billy Jo, Bonnie, and Virginia. In January 1943, after a semester at Univ. of AR, he and a buddy joined the United States Marine Corps and were off to Camp Pendleton, CA with the 4th Division before shipping out. Marv emerged a lean, mean, fighting machine, completing the WWII Pacific invasions on Iwo Jima, Saipan, Tannin, Roi-Namur as Fwd. Observer Air Liaison Team 1st JASCO, attached 2nd Battalion 25th Marines.

He returned state side October 1945 to attend UC Berkley where he met Emma Louise Feyk, a US Naval Reserve (WAVE) and the love of his life. They married October 20, 1947. Just barely getting used to both civilian and married life, their first son Robert arrived in 1949. Marvin was called back in for a short mission during the Korean War until the announcement of their daughter Mary's arrival. With that news, Marv headed home to settle in as a family man, and a great one he was! After honing his skills for a few more years, number two son Bill was born in OK.

Most of his career was spent in Property/Causality insurance as Claims Adjuster, Special Agent and Underwriting Manager in El Dorado,Tulsa and Dallas. He accepted the opportunity to become the Eastern Division Vice President & General Manager of Unigard Insurance. So in 1967, off to New Jersey the family of five moved. Marv helped build the Eastern Division, along with new headquarters while serving on the Ironia Volunteer Fire Department, battling fires and sub-zero weather in 10 feet of snow.

Tired of the cold, Marv and Lou headed west to Arizona in June 1970 with their youngest son Bill. They purchased several insurance agencies and together, grew The Puryear Darnell Insurance Agency before selling and retiring in 1978 in their new home in Fountain Hills, AZ. Marvin was a founding member of the Arizona Business Alliance (ABA), a business leads organization with the "movers & shakers" of the Valley. The 70's were a blast! He became an avid off-road motorcyclist, painfully learning that gravel rash did not heal as quick at 65 as at age 45. But he loved exploring the desert and was anxious to share that experience with anyone he could, except for when it wasn't 122 degrees out and the rattle snakes were awake. It wasn't long after that when Marv and life business partner & soul mate jumped into their new career adventure. Puryear Realty was founded in Fountain Hills, eventually joining forces with Nabers Realty & RE-MAX Sun Properties. But his real claim to fame was his beautiful bride of 56 years, Louise, from Lewistown, MT who preceded him in death 2001 as did their son Robert Puryear in 2016. Marv did find time to retire in 2006 and was blessed with wonderful, close friends who made him a part of their daily & weekly lives. He continued to meet new friends every day and everywhere he went, including his later-in-life companion Barbara Janssen.

Quickly, he discovered that retirement was a challenge, that Walmart was not hiring, would be the first to admit that he was never much of a sports fan, and had few, if any hobbies. But he enjoyed a good meal with his close friends and family, spending time on the computer keeping in touch with old friends around the world, playing solitaire and loved listening to his favorite Jazz, Big Band and Blues music with his harmonicas near by. Marv and Lou loved living in Fountain Hills, the lovely friends they made and being a part of a great community.

Marvin is also survived by his daughter Mary Louise Thieme, son William Lloyd Puryear (Kathy) all of Scottsdale, granddaughters Emily and Lindsay Puryear of Scottsdale, Shayla Puryear of Sedona/Cottonwood, AZ, Jeremy C. Puryear of Granbury, TX and great-grandson Rowan William Sands of Scottsdale.

A Celebration of Life Memorial will be held in October to honor Marvin and will be announced. Please visit www.Tributes.com to let us know whom to notify with memorial details. Marvin and Louise will be honored for their service to our country and will be interned together at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. The family would like to give special thanks to Hospice of the Valley (www.HOV.org/donate) for their compassionate care. So in lieu of flowers, the family suggests your support to this wonderful organization.