Edna Mae was born on April 17, 1922, on the family farm near Guernsey, Iowa to Ludwig and Anna Marie Keller Burke. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John's Lutheran Church. She attended St. John's School and graduated with the Class of 1939 at Guernsey High School. On May 30, 1943, she was married to Merlin C. Stoker at St. John's Lutheran Church. The couple operated a grain and livestock farm near Guernsey. She worked as a bookkeeper for Koehn Motors in Victor for over 20 years. Following the death of her husband, she was married to Francis G. Purvis on August 28, 1976 at St. John's Lutheran Church. Edna Mae was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a member of the church ladies aid, the choir and a 4-H leader. She enjoyed playing cards, fishing, crossword puzzles, sewing and crocheting. She is survived by her husband, Francis G. Purvis of Deep River; five daughters, Mary E. (Michael) Maschmann of Brooklyn, Deborah J. (Ray) Micheel of Gilman, Edythe A. Kuntz of Brooklyn, Joyce (Dennis) Meldrem of Deep River and Sandy (Marvin) Evans of Guernsey; two sons, Carl (Milly) Purvis of Guernsey and Bob (Mary Ann) Purvis of Mechanicsville, MD; 16 grandchildren; and 21 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Merlin; one daughter, Virginia Louise Stoker; one brother, Roland Burke; and one sister, Gertrude Susinno. Memorials may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church Organ Fund.