Rodger Lee Purdy
1955-01-20 2023-02-02
Rodger “Rodg” Lee Purdy, 68, of Senoia, Georgia, passed away the evening of Thursday, February 2, 2023, after an extensive hospital stay following lung surgery in early January 2023.
Rodg was born on January 20, 1955, to Gerald Anderson Purdy and Faye Darlene Iverson in Chandler, Arizona. They later moved to Kaysville, Utah, where they raised Rodg and his siblings: Steve Purdy (Pat) of Kaysville, UT, Russ Purdy (Jamie) of Syracuse, UT, and Sue Hellewell (Mark) of Clearfield, UT. Rodg grew up in a hardworking family, and began working various jobs beginning at 10 years old, including a job at a peony farm, maintaining the grounds at a nearby cemetery, and working as a bouncer at a roller skating rink at Lagoon.
Rodg loved and excelled at sports, lettering in football, track, and basketball. He was an All-State athlete in all three sports, of which basketball was his favorite. He won 2nd in State for discus his senior year (1972-73), throwing 156’11”. Rodg received a scholarship to play football at the University of Utah, and LaVell Edwards attempted to recruit him at his doorstep to play football for Brigham Young University. Rodg instead chose to play football and basketball, and was on the track and field team for Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, because he received a scholarship to play basketball in addition to football. His second year at Ricks was a memorable one as Rodg and Steve played football together; Steve as a center and Rodg as a tackle.
Rodg loved riding his motorcycle, which he enjoyed taking for a spin after showers to dry his then-long hair. Denise VanAusdal, a cute, new girl in his Sunday School class, liked his curls, his motorcycle, and his sweet personality, and they fell in love and married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 5, 1975. The next day they moved to Portland, Oregon, where Rodg graduated with a BS in Biology from Portland State University. Two children, Nate and Dionne, were born during this time.
After graduation, the couple moved to Layton, Utah, where Rodg found his niche in the industrial pump business with Galigher-Ash. Two more sons, Jess and David, were born in Utah before the family relocated to Lakeland, Florida in 1983, where Rodg worked as a Southeast Regional Sales Manager. Four years later, Rodg convinced the company to move him to Atlanta, Georgia, where travel for work would be much easier on him and the family. Rikki, the youngest of the bunch, was born shortly after the move.
Rodg graduated with his MBA from Mercer University in 1989, and in 1990, Rodg left the company to start his own successful business, FlowTech, which he grew for ten years. He was proud of his work, and he very much enjoyed this time of his life. During this busy period, he served for four years as the bishop of the Peachtree City Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and as a volunteer police chaplain for the Peachtree City police department. He loved the members of his congregation and community, especially the youth, the underdogs, and those on the fringe. He had a gift for loving those around him as God’s children. Many, many friends consider him to be a “second dad,” which is a title he wouldn’t seek, but certainly describes his interest to continually serve others.
Rodg loved his family. His purpose in life, it seemed, was to make lasting memories with his bride Denise, the kids, and their many friends. He bought a boat with that end in mind, and the Purdy family treasures their time out on the water learning new skills, adventuring, getting caught in the rain, paddling to shore with a broken-down watercraft, and smiling through the wind, sun, and sunburns. He loved to slalom ski at dusk when the water was “like glass.” He was proud of Denise and the kids’ skiing and wakeboarding skills. He loved to take Denise to the Fox Theatre for musicals, spend time with friends, gather families in the home, travel, and watch the Braves win the World Series. These are memories never to forget.
He was proud of the diverse interests and accomplishments of his children, including piano, musical composition, chorus, dirt bike racing, machine repair, drumline, soccer, tennis, ballet, and art. He and Denise had a gift for seeing the potential in their kids and pushing them to excel on their own. He worried about everyone and wanted the best for others. He was patient with his kids’ development and weaknesses, as well as with his own.
Rodg would say his legacy is his children and grandchildren, but the family would say it is his proactive, selfless interest in others. If he wasn’t working hard, playing hard, attending events, or teaching his kids how to fix something, he was off helping a friend with Denise or with one of the kids in tow. Many Sundays, Denise fixed extra dinner or dessert, just in case he invited someone over to the house. He was the man who picked up hitchhikers and quietly gave money to others in need.
He just seemed to be good at anything he wanted to try, and he did just that. He taught his kids to “try new and different things,” which the Purdys adopted as a family mantra. He became better at things as he “measured twice, and cut thrice,” another saying remembered by the family.
Rodg suffered a stroke in May of 2008, yet he found ways to continue to enjoy family and participate in a lot of the same things, albeit in a limited capacity. The Purdys are grateful for his individual interest in and love for his grandchildren, each of whom looks up to their “BoBo” as a very special person in their lives. He was so proud of each of them and loved to talk about their personalities and accomplishments, however big or small. They will miss the small traditions they had with him and the various nicknames he had for each of them. They remember his “-isms” and love.
In his later years, Rodg enthusiastically enjoyed guns and reloading. He loved hosting his friends, friends-of-friends, and anyone who mentioned a love of guns in shooting at his house or down the street. He enjoyed planning his garden with Denise, going out to lunch with dear friends, and long visits with extended family and friends.
Rodg’s passing reunites him with his parents, Gerald and Faye, his parents-in-law, Alton and Lorna VanAusdal, special friends who have passed, and with his Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he loves. He is survived by his wife, children, and siblings.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 10, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fayetteville. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the funeral home. Please navigate here to view the service virtually: https://youtube.com/live/7M_krrvsIMs?feature=share
In lieu of flowers, the family would love for you to donate to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or any charity of your choice.
Hug your family tight, and keep making those memories together! Thanks for being part of the Purdys’ extended family.
We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall at https://www.mowells.com/obituaries/Rodger-Rodg-Lee-Purdy?obId=27197981
Rodg was born on January 20, 1955, to Gerald Anderson Purdy and Faye Darlene Iverson in Chandler, Arizona. They later moved to Kaysville, Utah, where they raised Rodg and his siblings: Steve Purdy (Pat) of Kaysville, UT, Russ Purdy (Jamie) of Syracuse, UT, and Sue Hellewell (Mark) of Clearfield, UT. Rodg grew up in a hardworking family, and began working various jobs beginning at 10 years old, including a job at a peony farm, maintaining the grounds at a nearby cemetery, and working as a bouncer at a roller skating rink at Lagoon.
Rodg loved and excelled at sports, lettering in football, track, and basketball. He was an All-State athlete in all three sports, of which basketball was his favorite. He won 2nd in State for discus his senior year (1972-73), throwing 156’11”. Rodg received a scholarship to play football at the University of Utah, and LaVell Edwards attempted to recruit him at his doorstep to play football for Brigham Young University. Rodg instead chose to play football and basketball, and was on the track and field team for Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho, because he received a scholarship to play basketball in addition to football. His second year at Ricks was a memorable one as Rodg and Steve played football together; Steve as a center and Rodg as a tackle.
Rodg loved riding his motorcycle, which he enjoyed taking for a spin after showers to dry his then-long hair. Denise VanAusdal, a cute, new girl in his Sunday School class, liked his curls, his motorcycle, and his sweet personality, and they fell in love and married in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on June 5, 1975. The next day they moved to Portland, Oregon, where Rodg graduated with a BS in Biology from Portland State University. Two children, Nate and Dionne, were born during this time.
After graduation, the couple moved to Layton, Utah, where Rodg found his niche in the industrial pump business with Galigher-Ash. Two more sons, Jess and David, were born in Utah before the family relocated to Lakeland, Florida in 1983, where Rodg worked as a Southeast Regional Sales Manager. Four years later, Rodg convinced the company to move him to Atlanta, Georgia, where travel for work would be much easier on him and the family. Rikki, the youngest of the bunch, was born shortly after the move.
Rodg graduated with his MBA from Mercer University in 1989, and in 1990, Rodg left the company to start his own successful business, FlowTech, which he grew for ten years. He was proud of his work, and he very much enjoyed this time of his life. During this busy period, he served for four years as the bishop of the Peachtree City Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and as a volunteer police chaplain for the Peachtree City police department. He loved the members of his congregation and community, especially the youth, the underdogs, and those on the fringe. He had a gift for loving those around him as God’s children. Many, many friends consider him to be a “second dad,” which is a title he wouldn’t seek, but certainly describes his interest to continually serve others.
Rodg loved his family. His purpose in life, it seemed, was to make lasting memories with his bride Denise, the kids, and their many friends. He bought a boat with that end in mind, and the Purdy family treasures their time out on the water learning new skills, adventuring, getting caught in the rain, paddling to shore with a broken-down watercraft, and smiling through the wind, sun, and sunburns. He loved to slalom ski at dusk when the water was “like glass.” He was proud of Denise and the kids’ skiing and wakeboarding skills. He loved to take Denise to the Fox Theatre for musicals, spend time with friends, gather families in the home, travel, and watch the Braves win the World Series. These are memories never to forget.
He was proud of the diverse interests and accomplishments of his children, including piano, musical composition, chorus, dirt bike racing, machine repair, drumline, soccer, tennis, ballet, and art. He and Denise had a gift for seeing the potential in their kids and pushing them to excel on their own. He worried about everyone and wanted the best for others. He was patient with his kids’ development and weaknesses, as well as with his own.
Rodg would say his legacy is his children and grandchildren, but the family would say it is his proactive, selfless interest in others. If he wasn’t working hard, playing hard, attending events, or teaching his kids how to fix something, he was off helping a friend with Denise or with one of the kids in tow. Many Sundays, Denise fixed extra dinner or dessert, just in case he invited someone over to the house. He was the man who picked up hitchhikers and quietly gave money to others in need.
He just seemed to be good at anything he wanted to try, and he did just that. He taught his kids to “try new and different things,” which the Purdys adopted as a family mantra. He became better at things as he “measured twice, and cut thrice,” another saying remembered by the family.
Rodg suffered a stroke in May of 2008, yet he found ways to continue to enjoy family and participate in a lot of the same things, albeit in a limited capacity. The Purdys are grateful for his individual interest in and love for his grandchildren, each of whom looks up to their “BoBo” as a very special person in their lives. He was so proud of each of them and loved to talk about their personalities and accomplishments, however big or small. They will miss the small traditions they had with him and the various nicknames he had for each of them. They remember his “-isms” and love.
In his later years, Rodg enthusiastically enjoyed guns and reloading. He loved hosting his friends, friends-of-friends, and anyone who mentioned a love of guns in shooting at his house or down the street. He enjoyed planning his garden with Denise, going out to lunch with dear friends, and long visits with extended family and friends.
Rodg’s passing reunites him with his parents, Gerald and Faye, his parents-in-law, Alton and Lorna VanAusdal, special friends who have passed, and with his Savior, Jesus Christ, whom he loves. He is survived by his wife, children, and siblings.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, February 10, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Fayetteville. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at the funeral home. Please navigate here to view the service virtually: https://youtube.com/live/7M_krrvsIMs?feature=share
In lieu of flowers, the family would love for you to donate to the Humanitarian Fund of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or any charity of your choice.
Hug your family tight, and keep making those memories together! Thanks for being part of the Purdys’ extended family.
We welcome you to provide your condolences, thoughts, and memories on our Tribute Wall at https://www.mowells.com/obituaries/Rodger-Rodg-Lee-Purdy?obId=27197981