Mary J. Puraty, 88, of Newbern, Tennessee, formerly of Akron, Ohio, joined her
Heavenly Father peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, May 8, 2022, at AHC of Union City
in Union City, Tennessee.
Mary will be remembered as a selfless individual who was always full of enthusiasm and
optimism no matter what she was doing, which drew people to her. Mary loved people
and never met a stranger, making lifelong friends wherever she went (even at
Walmart!) and inviting people along in the journey of life. Mary was born on August 20,
1933 in Czechoslovakia, one of six children of the late John Jasko and the late Joanne
Cani Jasko. At the age of 3, her family moved to Akron, Ohio to escape the looming war
in Europe. After a one-year return to their native Czechoslovakia when Mary was
around 14, the Jasko family decided to return to Ohio and permanently settle there –
their beloved homeland having been altered too much by the war.
In 1955, Mary married David G. Puraty of Akron, Ohio after a short six-week courtship.
They would be married 66 years and together they had four children: Dan, David,
Dianne and Tina. While Mary will fondly be remembered by many for the lasting
relationships she had with them; many will also remember her for the many years of
service as the church secretary for Newbern First United Methodist Church in Newbern,
Tennessee. There, she shared her prominent soprano voice as part of the church choir;
a gift she also shared with the Dyersburg Choral Society. And while her voice declared
the Lord’s praises, many at Newbern First United Methodist Church will remember Mary
for being the first to welcome you like an old friend.
Mary’s children and grandchildren have fond memories of shopping trips, card games,
cross-stitching and baking Slovak cookies at Christmas time – a treat her family and
friends eagerly looked forward to beginning in October. Mary was the sunshine of their
life and although the world is a little less bright today without her, Mary is lighting up the
pathway to heaven with her sparkling soprano voice, resting after a life well-lived and a
lifelong journey of service to others.
A Celebration of Life service for Mary will be held at 12Noon on Tuesday, May 17, 2022
at Newbern First United Methodist Church with Rev. Travis Davison and Rev. Tyler Neeley officiating.
Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery in Newbern, Tennessee. The family will
receive visitors ahead of the Celebration of Life service beginning at 11a.m.
Mary leaves to cherish her memory, her husband of 66 years, David; two sons, Dan
Puraty of White Bear Lake Township, Minnesota, and David Puraty (Joanna) of
Dyersburg, Tennessee; two daughters Dianne Davison (Joe) of Dyersburg, Tennessee
and Tina Puraty of Clearwater, Florida; one sister, Goldie Rininger of Copley, Ohio; four
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was
preceded in death by her brothers, John Jasko and George Jasko and sisters, Joanne
Murawski and Susie Jerep.
The family asks that memorial contributions be directed to the Dyer County Community
Cancer Fund, P.O. Box #1055, Dyersburg, Tennessee 38024.
Johnson-Williams Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mary J. Puraty.
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