BRISTOW, OKLAHOMA—AUGUST 25, 2017—Funeral services were held Wednesday for Oklahoma horseman John Benjamin Purcell, 77, who died on August 20 at an Oklahoma City hospital.

Dr. Bob Payne officiated at the Colbert Baptist Church in Ada. Burial was in the Oakman Cemetery. The Chickasaw Honor Guard conducted military honors.

He was born December 14, 1939, in Los Angeles to Earl Augustus and Martha Emily Conyers Purcell. He graduated from high school in Baldwin Park, California. He married Joyce Ann Winters on November 12, 1963, and they lived in Ada, Oklahoma.

Mr. Purcell was the owner and operator of Carpet Warehouse in Ada since 1978 and had also owned and trained race horses for over 20 years. He trained 87 winners from 961 starters that collectively earned $904,323.

He was a member of Colbert Baptist Church, the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Association and the American Paint Horse Association and had served in the U.S. Army with the 101st Airborne Division, being honorably discharged as a sergeant.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce, of the home; three daughters, Sheila Mills and husband, Scott, of Ada, Debbie Bond of Montgomery, Texas, and Tami Purcell of Ada; seven grandchildren, Tiffany Lockhart, Bree Figgins, Danny Manuel, Lane Mills, Cody Mills, Skye Purcell and Ty Mills; four great-grandchildren, Madison Neyhard, Cash Lockhart, Erin Lockhart and Hayley Lockhart; and a sister, Donna Villers of Arizona.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Frances "Fanny" Winward, Morene "Moe" Neal, Teresa Hunter, Tommy Purcell, Chuck Purcell and Earl Purcell.

Bearers will be Jose Gonzales, Pedro Martinez, Louis Augilar, Jay Presley, Danny Fuller and Kevin Newberry. Honorary bearers will be Lane Mills, Cody Mills, Ty Mills, Scott Mills and Dewey Smith.