Benjamin Purser Sr., 59

Benjamin Lenard Purser Sr. died March 28, 2004 in Bremerton. He was 59.

He was born on June 26, 1944 in Port Gamble to Stanley and Irene (Jackson) Purser.

He attended North Kitsap High School and Olympic College.

On June 18, 1979, he married Linda Elster in Kingston.

Purser served in the U.S. Army from 1965 to 1971, achieving the rank of specialist fourth class. He was awarded the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars with two oak leaf clusters.

He worked as a laborer and was a member of Local 252.

Purser volunteered with the Little Boston Fire Department. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kingston.

Purser is survived by his wife; mother of Kingston; sons Carlton Cook and Benjamin Purser Jr., both of Kingston and Lenard (Sachane) Cook of Leland, N.C.; daughters Cathy Hooper of Las Vegas and Rose and Tara Purser, both of Kingston; brothers Donald (Fran) Purser, Ralph (Debbie) Purser and Stanton Purser, all of Little Boston; sisters Rose (Robert) Stewart of Port Orchard, Ellen (Herman) Price, Kathy (Conrad) Sullivan and Penny Purser, all of Little Boston; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his father Stanley Purser and brothers Robert Jackson and Gary Purser.

Visitation and funeral service were held April 2.

Memorial donations may be made to Washington State Special Olympics or to the VFW in Kingston. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller-Woodlawn Funeral Home in Bremerton.

Joseph Gnos, 90

Joseph Gnos of Poulsbo died April 1, 2004 in Poulsbo. He was 90.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. April 7 at First Lutheran Church in Poulsbo. A lunch will follow at the church’s Christian Education Center.

A complete obituary will follow in a later issue.