Graveside funeral services for Kenneth Dean Qualls, 85, of Purcell will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2020 at Hillside Cemetery in Purcell. Services will be under the direction of the Wilson-Little Funeral Home in Purcell.
Mr. Qualls passed away Monday, October 19, 2020.
Kenneth was born August 19, 1935 in Hannah, Okla., the youngest of six children born to Jessie Jackson Qualls and Bessie Lorine (Ervin) Qualls. He grew up in the Lexington/Purcell area, graduating from Purcell High School with the Dragon Class of 1955. Kenneth joined the United States Army and served his country proudly.
By chance, at the Kennedy Drug Store in Purcell, Kenneth met Joyclyn “Joyce” Smith. It was love at first sight, and they both knew it. On November 27, 1959, Kenneth and Joyce were married in Jackson, Mississippi. They made their home in Purcell where together they raised three children, daughter, Amanda, and sons, Ricky and Josh.
Kenneth went to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone as a lineman, first in Clinton and later Norman. His work afforded him the opportunity to work at the University of Oklahoma Campus and this in turn allowed him to watch his beloved Sooners. Kenneth stood on the sidelines of Owen Field, and never missed a Sooner Basketball game in 10 years.
He spent his retirement years traveling some, but he never went far from home. He enjoyed working with his hands and tinkering around with wood projects, and even built his own work shed.
Kenneth cherished his family and especially his grandchildren, and was a very active in their everyday lives. He will be dearly missed!
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce Qualls; son, Ricky Qualls; parents, Jessie and Bessie Qualls; brother, Jack Qualls and three sisters, Faye Hunt, Juanita Furr and Lillian Burkhalter.
Kenneth is survived by his daughter, Amanda Qualls of Purcell; son, Josh Qualls and wife, Rolonda, of Ft. Myer, Fla.; sister, Wilma Bennett of Norman; four grandchildren, J.T. Qualls, Dylan Tyler, Dalton Elmore and Dakota Elmore, and a host of other family and friends.
Online condolences may be made at wilsonlittle.com.
