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Discussion: Passing of Fred Purvis

It is with deep sorrow to inform Senior Softball of the untimely passing of Mr.Fred Purvis. Fred was a great guy, great friend and was one of best hitters I had the privilege to play ball with in senior softball. He will be greatly missed. May God grant him eternal rest and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Fred Purvis was a true gentleman and a premier power hitter in Senior Softball. Fred and I both played on a team from Kansas City. He left the year before I started playing, that is probably the only reason they picked me up.

When I played against him I would try to talk to him and most of the time he would just look at me. I thought for longest time, is this guy a jerk or what. Later on when we were teammates on GSF I found out he was deaf and would not wear his hearing aids when he played ball. Needless to say now I felt like the jerk. He always got a laugh out of that.

When we were playing against Fred in the World's this year, we had our choice of pitching to Webbie or Fred. Neither was a good choice, but we chose to pitch to Webbie. The moment was never too big for Freddie.

I am going to miss the "Big Guy."
This is terrible news. Loved playing with Fred. Anyone know what happened?
Heart attack, passed away in his sleep.
Thanks Mike. Our sympathies to his family. At the Worlds this year he got clutch hit after clutch hit. I remarked to a teamate, "does he ever not hit the ball hard!" He will be sorely missed.
Senior softball has lost one of its true gentle giants. Fred was possibly the nicest gentleman I ever had the high privelege of playing with in softball, and knowing in life. His power was legendary. In what I believe was his last at bat in worlds this year he hit one that I believe he is in a better position to catch right now than the left fielder ever was. What a bomb!
Fred, rest in peace with the Lord. You will be missed.
Fred played with us from 2008-2010 and he was a huge part of any success that we had. He was as incredibly strong and as extremely likeable as everyone has stated.
One Fred Purvis story that I love to tell... we were playing MTC in AZ in the 2010 SSUSA 60 M+ World Series and it was roughly 100 degrees. Needless to say, the Trump Stote ball was not carrying for mere mortals. They walked a man to face Fred and he hit a line drive 40' past the fence. Their manager was coaching 3rd and he told us that that HR wouldn't happen again. I told him that I'd take that bet... he hit it farther the next time.
Senior Softball will definitely miss a man like Fred... I know that I will.
BW
I had the pleasure of playing with Fred a few years ago in 55M. Like what's already been said, he was one of the nicest men you'll ever meet in Senior Softball, a gentle giant of a man. You'll be missed Freddie, RIP.
I am so sorry to hear this news...Fred was truly a force in this game and a good friend...George Robinson
For those of you who have written about Fred, I have spoken with Diane and she and the girls and grandkids have read your posts. It has helped them, so for that I thank you. You all correct in your assessment of Fred. He and I started playing football and baseball together at Baker University and continued playing softball together in Kansas City until he moved to AZ. He was more than a great friend and team mate, we grew to be brothers and I miss him a great deal. We watched over each other and each other's family. I am so happy I was able to spend time with him when he returned to KC to honor another team mate of ours and then weeks later to spend what will be the last time I will ever spend with him when we were in Las Vegas to play ball. Diane and Fred and I and my wife spent time between games visiting and going to dinner and lunch together. He is the best man I have ever known and my world is pretty empty now without him. Fred rest easy now, as we will take it from here. I love you man and will miss you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T. Burk
I'm far away from the fray now location wise.... But I knew and liked Fred....as fierce and as focused competitor as you will ever find on the field.....and very cordial off the field....he is/was one of the good guys & even this far away I felt the loss and shock as soon as I saw the headline.....

Prayers and condolences sent and wished for the family - including - of course - the softball "family".....
I had the privilege of playing with Fred on the Omen team this year - I cannot believe he is no longer with us. As has been said by several posters, Fred was one of the true gentlemen of our sport. Hitting in front of Fred, I knew I was going to get my swings because no one wanted to walk me and face Fred! My last memory of the big guy was having the opportunity to participate in a team dinner with Fred and Diane after the Las Vegas tournament. Fred, you are missed. Go with God, my friend.
Larry Lopez
I started playing against Fred about 15 years ago. Fred and I became friends the first day we met. As everyone has posted Fred was THE nicest guy you could ever meet. We had long talks about times back in college many discussions about softball and he and I enjoyed talking Basketball. I did get to play with Fred for a short time and as you all know he was a great teammate. Fred WE will all miss you. May God Bless you and watch over you.
Hank Cluess
There is only one Fred that comes to my mind when I play in Arizona and Vegas. Please tell me what teams Fred played for. I always appreciated and respected Fred and every time I saw him in a complex, he was smiling and was very cordial. One of the guys I would always look for and hope to see. Obviously living in remote Colorado does not always afford me the ability to get down to the populace of player strongholds.

There's going to be some pretty talented teams in heaven and Fred will be one to remember.

Ed Andrews
Played with and against Fred for many years. Awesome Power! What everyone has said abot him as an individual is absolutely true! I never heard him say a bad word about anyone. It has been said many times about others but in Fred's case it couldn't be more accurate - " a great player, but an even better person". God Bless, you will be missed!
I would like to add my condolences to Diane and the rest of the Purvis family. Fred was an exceptional person and will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. I will always remember his dry sense of humor and wit. I believe I'm still in shock as many of us are over Fred's premature passing. I like many of you will have fond memories of Fred as we play this game that he loved so much.
Rest in Peace old friend!!
WOW! This is a shock. I played with Fred last year when a couple of us Colorado guys were playing with Rusty's. I remember we shared a rental car with Fred in Reno. We were staying one place and Fred was staying somewhere else and was going to play the weekend. We told Fred we'd just take a cab to the airport the morning we were leaving. He wouldn't hear of it. He said, "I'll be there at 5:00 AM to take you to the airport" and he was. This is just an example of what kind of guy he was. He couldn't hear much but he was always there to compliment you on plays you made and even plays you almost made. He was an amazing individual. May he rest in peace!!

Greg Broeckelman - Scrap Iron Club
Services for Fred are tomorrow-November 9. Please keep him and Diane in your prayers.
Prayers from the Tropics to family n friends....he was known even in the Islands! Aloha, Fabe
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