Obituary for Emelie Purdy | David Lee Funeral Home & Cremation Services
- Date Of Birth: May 24, 1921
- Date Of Death: September 25, 2013
- State: Michigan
92, of Mpls., passed away on Sept. 25, 2013. Born in Wells, MN. on 5/24/21, preceded in death by parents George and Emma Purdy, dear friend Janice Johnson and her beloved feline companion, Lila Peka. Lorraine was loved and admired by all who knew her, especially her young students in the Wayzata School District, where she taught music for 38 years, retiring in 1984. At Widsten Elementary school, she established and directed the first Boys Choir. She happily tamed this group of sometimes unruly 4th, 5th, 6th grade boys, and in return they sang their hearts out for her. Music was her life and this young Boys Choir became her passion. The choir performed many concerts and was especially honored to be invited to sing at the state convention of the Minnesota Music Educators. The choir earned her the respect and admiration, not only from grateful parents and colleagues but from the boys themselves, many of whom continued to keep in touch with her. She graduated from St. Olaf College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education. Lorraine was a member of the St. Olaf Choir. She told many interesting stories of the young Olaf Christianson taking over the directorship of this already well known choir from his famous father, F. Melius Christianson. She continued her education, earning a Master of Arts degree from the MacPhail College of Music. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Society of Career Woman Teachers, National Education Association, Music Educators National Conference, and Wayzata Association of Retired Educators. The Minnesota Music Educators Association, where she held several offices, honored her in 1985 for her 42 years of teaching the art of music to our youth.She was also honored as Teacher of the Year and WCCOs Good Neighbor. She was a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where she sang in the choir for 39 years. In her retirement she rekindled a love of her hobby of creating and collecting dollhouse miniatures. The hobby became a new passion as she
joined forces with a good friend who had begun a miniature business.
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