Connie Rogene (Newman) Purdy, 66, of Macomb, passed away at 7:30 PM,
Thursday, October 6, 2022, at The Elms Care Rehabilitation Center in Macomb, IL,
surrounded by family.
Connie was born December 12, 1955, in Keokuk, Iowa, the youngest daughter of
Joe and Betty (Shoup) Newman of rural Carthage. She had two daughters, Amy
(Robert) Gound, of Warsaw, and Abby (Karl) Ruebush, of rural Macomb. Only July
4, 1998, she married Lynn Purdy in an outdoor wedding in Carthage. She added
three stepchildren to that union, Tim (Theresa) Purdy of LaHarpe, Denise Chase of
Stonghurst, and Debbie (Sean) Blue of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Together
they have six grandchildren, Jenna and Jordan Gound of Warsaw, Kade Ruebush
of rural Macomb, Riley (Savannah) Blue of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jackson
Chase of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Carson Purdy of LaHarpe. She is also survived
by two sisters, Diana (John) Bollin of rural Dallas City and Karen Baird of rural
Carthage.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband and her parents.
Connie graduated in 1973 from Carthage High School and attended beauty school.
She taught beauty school until opening her own shop in her home in Terre Haute,
Illinois, in 1978. She then closed her shop after and few years and wrote for the
Hancock County Journal-Pilot in Carthage. Soon she spent the rest of her career
working on the business side of the medical field until she had to retire from
McDonough District Hospital in February 2021 due to her health.
Connie knew no stranger and touched the lives of everyone she met with her love
and compassion. Her children and family were everything to her. She was
actively involved in their schooling serving as secretary of the LaHarpe School
Board in the 1980’s, starting the LaHarpe Music Boosters, serving on the LaHarpe
Sports Boosters, and attending any and every music, sporting and school event
her girls were involved in.

Connie was actively involved in her home church, the United Methodist Church in
Carthage. She served on several committees, sang in the choir, and served on the
UMW. Connie had a special talent for quilting and found such joy in making many
of her quilts for family and friends. Connie made many scrapbooks for all of her
grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Monday, October 10, 2022, at the First
United Methodist Church in Carthage with burial to follow in the LaHarpe
Cemetery, LaHarpe, Illinois. Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 7:00 Sunday
evening at Printy Funeral Home in Carthage with family meeting friends from 5:00
– 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be directed to the McDonough District Hospital
Hospice or the First United Methodist Church in Carthage. Printy Funeral Home
of Carthage is in charge of arrangements.