George Scott Puryear

George Scott Puryear, 98, passed away on Wednesday, January 16th, 2019, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. George was born on November 28, 1920, in Paragould, Arkansas, the son of Neil Cosler and Myrtle Scott Puryear. He was a life-long resident of Jonesboro, Arkansas. George is survived by his two sons and their wives, Samuel Scott and Georgia May Puryear of Jonesboro and Dr. George Scott Puryear, Jr. and Tommie of Wynne; seven grandchildren: Alison Puryear, Julie Puryear and her husband, Brian, Matt Puryear and his wife, Donna, Coy Puryear and his wife, Molly, Amanda Drosopoulos, Cassie May Charlton, Grant Charlton; six great-grandchildren: Joseph Kremers, Annie Crouch, George Crouch, Jackson Puryear, Winston Puryear, Mac Puryear; five nieces: Jo Ruth Wright, Carol Coker, Ann Syfert, Mary Scott Ellis, and Leigh Ann Puryear; and two nephews: Mel Hughes and Dean Puryear. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ruth “Babe” Secoy Puryear; a sister, Margaret Moyers; and a brother, Neil Cosler Puryear, Jr. After one year at Riverside Military Academy in Gainsville, Georgia, George attended the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, for 3 years where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity and the Razorback golf team. He was commissioned in the United States Navy in September of 1942 and served three years, including ten months aboard the USS Tenacity located in the North Atlantic during World War II. After returning from the war, George purchased a gin supply business in Jonesboro and began selling cotton tags and printing forms initiating a life-long career in the cotton industry that would span seven decades. He represented numerous companies during his career including Buffalo Island Seed Company, Monsanto, Ennis Tag Company, Printed Sytems, and Stoneville Pedigree Seed Company where he worked for forty-three years selling cotton seed. George and Babe also owned the Casual Bar, a clothing store in Jonesboro, for seventeen years. Remarkably, George formally retired from the cotton industry when he closed George S. Puryear Co. in June of 2018 at the age of 97. George took great pride in serving for over forty years on Jonesboro’s City Water & Light Board. His grandfather, G.W. Puryear, was a founding member of that organization in 1906. He was also a deacon in the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, where he was member for over eighty years. One of George’s greatest passions in life was the game of golf. He enjoyed a long and successful career as an amateur golfer that included more than sixty individual and team tournament victories over a period of 50 years. Many of the victories were alongside close friends and playing partners including Junie Dowell, Sims Dailey, Les Abernathy, and Dr. Grover Poole. Of his many victories, the most meaningful were the two ASGA Father-Son Tournament victories, one with each son: Sam in 1982 and Scott in 1990. He also often spoke of his 1963 victory in the J.W. Buzick Memorial Tournament over Hillman Robbins in a playoff, who later won the U.S. Amateur Golf Championship the following year. He was the longest living member of Jonesboro Country Club, where he had served on the Board of Directors, as a tournament chairman, and was a nine time club champion. George’s greatest love in life was his wife of 67 years, Babe. They enjoyed their many years together traveling, attending Razorback games, and spending time with their children and grandchildren. George was always fastidious about his dress and appearance, and will be remembered for his humility, forthrightness, dry sense of humor and commitment and love for his family. Funeral services will be held on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Arkansas with brother Emil Williams officiating. Burial will follow at City Cemetery in Jonesboro under the direction of Faith Funeral Service. The family will receive visitors on Monday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until service time.Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Veterans Association, or charity of your choice.