Troy Pursiful

Troy Elijah Pursiful, age 82, of Corryton, passed away peacefully at his home on the evening of Sunday, July 25, 2021. Troy was born in Knoxville on August 11th 1939 – one of 9 children. Troy met his wife-to-be, Polly Pursiful, in 5th grade. The two eloped on September 9, 1956 at age 17 and have been together ever since. Troy, like so many young men of the greatest generation, served in the U.S. Air Force after high school. He was stationed in Oklahoma, and it was there that his first daughter, Teresa, was born. After a deployment to Japan, Troy and Polly returned to Knoxville and welcomed their second daughter, Joni. Troy was trained as an electrician and worked most of his life on power plants and energy contracts. He was handy and hardworking, and liked to tinker around his house. He loved electronics and was always an early adopter of new technology. He was an avid runner and golfer for most of his life and, for decades, could be spotted jogging at the Gibbs High track, down his road, or through the Ruritan Park. While Troy had many hobbies, he was a family man through and through and gave without end to his daughters. He was a gentle and loving father figure to both of his grandsons. He rarely missed any of his grandchildren’s sporting events, and will leave behind a legacy of love, generosity and reliability to all of his family who depended on him for much throughout the years. Everyone that knew Troy knew how much he loved his wife, Polly. They doted on each other and flirted with one another and caringly loved for each other for 65 years. Their love was a love for the ages. Troy is survived by his wife, Polly Pursiful; his daughters, Teresa Blanton and Joni Laymon; his grandchildren: Jared Blanton (Tiffany), Maegan Carr Martin (Jonathan); his great-grandchildren: Marissa Blanton, Monroe Martin, August Martin, and Brooklyn Blanton; his sister, Betty Terry of Oklahoma; brother-in-law Jackie Lay (Gail); and nieces and nephews: Angie Cochran (Craig) and Anthony Lay. Troy is predeceased by his parents: P.Y. and Lucille Pursiful; brothers and sisters: Donald Pursiful, Pat Pursiful, J.C. Pursiful, Jack Pursiful, Helen Fleming, Jean Boone and Patsy Sparks; mother- and father-in-law, Woodrow and Marie Lay; grandson, W. Rex Laymon. Troy would have welcomed his first great-grandson in October. Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 28 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Mynatt’s Funeral Home in Fountain City, followed by a funeral service officiated by Rev. Wayne Davis. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 29 at 11 am, at Fairview Baptist Church, where Troy was a faithful member and past deacon. There will be no formal funeral procession. Family and friends should meet at Fairview at 10:45 am for the graveside service. The family thanks the following men who will serve as pallbearers: Jared Blanton, Anthony Lay, Christopher Legg, Paul Riffey and Jonathan Martin.