Robert Purser Senior

born on April 23, 1927 and pass away January 9th, 2015."What you do speaks so well I need not hear what you say." A hero to all his family: Sonny, born in a houseboat on Erlands Point, a lifelong Kitsap native, proud family man, U.S. Army veteran, and an esteemed Suquamish Tribal elder, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on Friday morning. Always reserved, Sonny spoke through how he lived; and Sonny lived with a depth and fervor that many will not fathom. The pride he carried for the Suquamish culture and his long love of outdoor beauty lives on in all of the Purser family. His sly smile and playful demeanor kept the youth in all of us. We will see Sonny in every wave on the sound, every rustle of trees just off the hiking trail, and in every laugh of his great-grandchildren. We will hold on dearly to his memory and pass on the legacy of his family. He is both deeply loved and greatly missed.On his first paper route Sonny stumbled into the love of his life, the owner of the only dog in the neighborhood that didn't like newspapers. Years later he married Lois: his anchor and his heart. From their love blossomed a beautiful family with 5 incredible children.Sonny gave selflessly to his community as an Eagle Scout, a brother in the Order of the Arrow, a volunteer firefighter, as well as a coach of several Babe Ruth and peewee teams. He proudly spent 29 years as a toolmaker in Keyport and as a fisherman, after which he retired to his beautiful home on Erland's Point.Sonny was preceded by his mother Dora Peterson Purser-Henry; his father, Robert Brown Purser; his second father, John Henry; his sisters: Dorthea Solomon, Hazel Johnson, Evelyn Jefferson, Mable Cordero; and Frances Jackson; his dear "Aunty Sparky" as well as many beloved cousins, aunts, uncles and 1 grandson.He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Lois; his brother, William Henry; his sister, Louise Harvey; his children: Robert Jr., Richard (Patricia) Randi, Ralena (Colin Maloney) and Ronald; 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; as well as many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins.Services will be held at 10:00 on Wednesday, January 14th, 2015 at the House of Awakened Culture in Suquamish, WA.