ILION-Mary C. Purdon age 89 of State Highway #51, entered into heaven after a brief illness on Friday February 19, 2010 in Saint Elizabeths Medical Center, Utica. She had the comfort of her loving family at her side. She was born on August 25, 1920 in Little Falls, daughter of the late Morand A. and Nellie Heffron Cramer. A lifelong area resident she was raised in Herkimer and was a graduate of Herkimer High Schoolwith the class of 1938. Mary furthered her education, graduating from the Utica School of Commerce. She worked for the Remington Arms Company in Ilion as an Executive Secretary from 1944 to 1950. From 1965 to 1985 she worked for the General Herkimer Council, Boy Scouts of America in Herkimer. In her last employment she was the church secretary at the First Baptist Churchin Herkimer. On October 22, 1947 she was united in marriage with George E. Purdon at her home in Herkimer. They shared a loving and devoted union of thirty years until his passing on April 13, 1978. Mrs. Purdon had a strong belief in God and was a long time member of the First Baptist Church, Herkimer. She attended church every Sunday and for many years sang in the church choir. She loved the outdoors and in earlier years enjoyed camping and tenting with her family and friends. She especially cherished the memories of times spent at Lewey Lake and IndianLake in the Adirondacks. In her leisure time she enjoyed playing Bridge and was a member of her card club for many years. Mary will always be remembered as a warm, caring and hopeful person who found her happiness in doing for others. She was a friend to many and will be greatly missed. Surviving are two sons, Everett Lance (Bud) Purdon of Whitesboro, Bruce Purdon of Little Falls, one daughter, Coleen Purdon of Whitesboro, five nieces, nephews and several cousins. She also leaves a step-daughter Diane Purdon Knight of Palm Bay, FL, her two children Darren and Deisha and five grandchildren. Besides her parents and husband George, she was preceded in death by her sister Margaret Dickens in 2001 and her step-mother Mae OBryan Cramer in 1963. Mary had many loving friends in her life, especially Mary Falk of Herkimer. Funeral service will be on Thursday morning at 11:00 am in Fenner Funeral Home Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. The Reverend Patti Lawrence, Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Herkimer will officiate. Interment will be in Mountain View Memorial Gardens, town of Little Fallslater this spring. The family will be present in the funeral home to receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 5:00 until 7:00 pm. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the First Baptist Church, Herkimer. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. The family wishes to thank the nurses and Doctors in the Oncology and Intensive Care Units of St. Elizabeths Medical Center for the kindness and caring that they provided.