Los Angeles
County
Biographies
BENNIE
M. PURKEY
Dealing
mainly in single family homes and residential income property, including motels
and trailer parks, Bennie M. Purkey is one of two women brokers handling real estate
in Monterey Park. Her office is situated
at 542 East Garvey where she has been in business since 1959; Mrs. Purkey has
worked in real estate for the past six years.
“Personalized service” is her motto.
Following
a remarkable trend, Mrs. Purkey is one of the present day’s “young”
grandmothers. Though scarcely fifty
years old, and an independent businesswoman, she has eight grandchildren, is
the mother of three grown children, and has been happily married for thirty
years to J. T. Purkey, who works for the Department of Water and Power in Los
Angeles. Born on November 12, 1912, in
Ravenna, Texas, Mrs. Purkey is the daughter of James Thomas Reynolds of
Missouri, a rancher who died ten years ago in Rosemead, and Susan Ethel
(Wilkinson) Reynolds of Texas. Mrs.
Purkey received her elementary education in Texas and Oklahoma and graduated
from high school in Shamrock, Texas, in 1931.
She had also studied real estate and psychology at the University of
California at Los Angeles, and Pasadena City College of Pasadena.
Moving
to California in 1943, the Purkey’s first took up residence in Olive, later
moving to San Bernardino and operating a grocery store in 1948, then owning a
restaurant until 1953, at which time they moved to Rosemead. Mrs. Purkey’s real estate business has
progressed very well since 1959.
She
is a member of the Monterey Park Chamber of Commerce, and belongs to the Order
of Eastern Star, Santa Anita Chapter in Temple City. Professionally Mrs. Purkey is a member of the
Alhambra Realtors’ Association, the Pasadena Trading Post, the National
Association of Real Estate Boards, and the California Real Estate
Association. Her religious affiliation
is with the Advent Christian Church in Los Angeles.
Married
on June 18, 1932, in Erick, Oklahoma, Mrs. Purkey and her husband, also a
native Texan, are the parents of a son and two daughters. Denny J. Purkey is a graduate of San
Bernardino High School and spent five years in the United States Air
Force. He lives in Manhattan Beach, is
employed by Douglas Aircraft Company, and attends Santa Monica State
College. He and his wife have three
children: David, Michael, and
Susie. Mrs. Robert L. (Yvonne Purkey)
Lakes lives in San Bernardino with her husband, a partner in the McFarland
Floor Covering Company, and their three children: Larry, Garry, and Shari. Mr. Lakes is attending San Bernardino City
College. Mrs. Ralph (Joyce Purkey) Greenup
lives in Temple City with her husband, a former professional entertainer and
dancer who works for the Utility Trailer Company and is presently attending
Pasadena City College. The Greenup’s
have two small children, Miles and Heather.
Mrs.
Purkey finds recreation in bowling and makes a hobby of sewing.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Historical Volume & Reference Works Including Alhambra, Monterey Park,
Rosemead, San Gabriel & Temple City, by Robert P. Studer,
Pages 602-603, Historical Publ., Los Angeles, California. 1962.
© 2013 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES
BIOGRAPHIES