Ella Sirkel Pursche, of Moody, passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2017. Services will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 25, 2017, Willow Grove Baptist Church in Moody, with Reverend Ridge Adams officiating, Visitation will be Friday, February 24, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Moody Chapel, Moody Texas.

Ella Sirkel Pursche was born on August 20, 1936 in Killeen, Texas to Alfred Lee Sirkel and Fannie Appling Sirkel , and was the youngest of nine children. At age 3, she moved to the Waco area. Ella fell in love, and married, the love of her life of 63 years, Franklin D. Pursche, of Waco, on June 5, 1953 in San Diego, California, where he was stationed in the United States Navy.

Ella was a very independent and talented woman. She ran the snack bar during Bingo at the New Road Bingo, in Waco, and The American Legion, in Temple, for many years. She had many customers who came in just to eat her cooking and buy her homemade desserts. Ella loved gardening and tending to her flowers, oil painting, and crafting but her greatest passion was her husband, children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren. She was loved by everyone who knew her and was always willing to help someone out when they needed it. Ella fought for her life, in 1978, when diagnosed with breast cancer and given only six months to live. She beat it for 39 years when she lost her life to pancreatic cancer. Ella was a very strong willed person with great determination, who could do anything she put her mind to.

Ella is survived by her loving husband, Frank Pursche of Temple, a son Jody and Judy of Morgans Point; daughters, Cathy and husband, Scott, of Moody, Lisa and husband, Bubba, of Moody; 11 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren, with twins being the latest addition she was so proud of; and numerous nieces and nephews.


Arrangements under the direction of Cole Funeral Home, McGregor, TX.