Bud Purkey

Bud Purkey, 69, of Coffeyville, passed away at his home on Friday, January 25, 2008. Bud was born on August 24, 1938 in Coffeyville, KS, the son of Arthur and Ruby Collins Purkey. He was a lifelong resident of the Coffeyville area. On March 18, 1961, he married Wanda Chambers in Coffeyville. Shortly thereafter, he established his business, Purkeys Auto Salvage and Used Cars, which he operated until his retirement in 2001. Bud became involved in auto racing in 1964 and it became a lifelong obsession. He competed at dirt tracks across the country for over 40 years. Because of his love for racing, he opened the Stateline Speedway in 1991, a quarter-mile dirt oval track, which he promoted until 2003, when it was closed due to his illness. He also enjoyed raising cattle. Bud is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; his three children, Allen Purkey and his wife, Sabrina, and Vicky Portwood and her husband, Russell, all of Coffeyville, and Mike Purkey and his wife, Dena of Goddard, KS; seven grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and four sisters, Joanne Searles, Bea Rosson, Sandy Benoit, and Wanda Talley-Estes. He was preceded in death by his parents, and three brothers, John, Ted, and Eddie. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at the First Assembly of God Church, 1504 W. 8th, Coffeyville. Interment will follow at Robbins Cemetery, west of Coffeyville. Visitation will be held Monday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Penwell-Gabel Ford-Wulf-Bruns Chapel, 2405 Woodland, Coffeyville; where the family will greet friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Bud Purkey to the CRMC Foundation for the Tatman Cancer Center or to the American Cancer Society in care of the funeral home.