Roger Franklin Purkey

Roger Franklin Purkey, of Morristown, passed away peacefully at age 75 on the morning of Sunday, March 2, 2025.

Roger was born to William “Brown” Purkey and Willie Carter Purkey on May 18, 1949.  Roger was a well-loved CPA and deacon of First Baptist Church Morristown.

Roger was a member of Purkey, Carter, Compton, Swann, and Carter, PLLC.  He spent time on the Board of Carson-Newman University and First Tennessee Bank.  He was a member of Gideons and Rotary.  Roger, Bill Seale, and John/Doyle Wallace chartered an annual prayer breakfast in Morristown patterned after the national and state prayer breakfasts in Washington, DC and Nashville, TN.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, William Brown and Willie Purkey; his twin brother, Ronald Purkey; special brother-in-law, Allen Greene.

Roger is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Delores; daughters, Deedra (Doug) Burroughs, and Jessica “Jess” (Ben) Duby; grandchildren, Blake and Teagan Burroughs, and Sam and Jack Duby; special sister-in-law, Millicent (Paul) Johnson; special nieces, Melanie (Dan) Redding, Amber (Brandon) Moore, and Kala (Dustin) Cupp.

The family will receive friends Sunday, March 9, 2025 in the chapel of First Baptist Morristown from 1:30 – 2:30 P.M.  Funeral services will follow at 2:30 P.M. with Dr. Dean Haun officiating.  Burial will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Jefferson City.

Honorary pallbearers are the men of the Jim Clawson Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Timothy Initiative in care of First Baptist Church Morristown.

Arrangements by Stetzer-Bales Funeral Home.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roger Franklin Purkey, please visit our floral store.