Mercer Island, WA

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Janet Crist Purcell, November 11, 2024. Janet was born in California in 1939, attended Sir Francis Drake high school in San Anselmo (class of '57) and was agraduate of UC Berkeley in 1961. She married Gerald Roberts in November of '61, and after several years of job related travel, in 1976 settled in Mercer Island, WA where she raised three boys, Jeff, Greg and David. She was also very active in school activities and in other ways which were of benefit to her community. After her husband Gerald passed away in 1996, she remained on Mercer Island and in 1997 attended her 40th high school reunion in California where she connected with old friends, one of whom was William Purcell, a classmate and friend and, at the time, principal of their former high school. They stayed in touch and three years later were married in Kenwood, CA. For most of their 24 years of marriage they spent the spring and summer in Washington and the fall and winter in Arizona where Bill has a home. Jan was smart, lively, funny, a great cook, and an avid traveler and a devoted friend, mother and grandmother to her four grandchildren and Bill's five. She will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her and loving her. Bon voyage, lovely lady. Your gracious impact on our lives and those of many others is immeasurable.