Inside The Blue And White

The Blue Devil community suffered a devastating loss. It is with heavy hearts that we mourn the loss of our own, Coach Purdy.

Jason Purdy, 54, of Coffeeville, was a beloved member of the Water Valley High School teaching staff and has been for many, many years. Known for his dry humor and laid-back personality, Coach Purdy was a favorite with students and faculty alike.

“Coach Purdy’s contributions extended far beyond the classroom, leaving an incredible mark on students, athletes, and each one of us who had the privilege of knowing him,” Water Valley High School Principal Dr. Vickie Person shared.

Purdy was a retired member of the Army National Guard and coached basketball at WVHS until 2021. He taught what students called a “boring class,” but what became many students’ favorite because of Purdy’s teaching style and methods.

Students and teachers are remembering Coach Purdy in the halls of the high school, writing their favorite memories of Purdy down. Students say that he was always joking with them, scaring them if they fell asleep or asking them if they had brought him any food.

Students also say that Coach Purdy was a great role model, and one of the best people to talk to about anything and everything. From deep feelings, to random topics, Purdy engaged any student in whatever they needed to talk about. He could always be seen with a Mountain Dew in hand, chatting with students as they walked the halls.

I knew his youngest daughter personally, and any time we would walk by his room, he would always joke with us. Being in the room across the hall from him for many years, Mrs. Karen Harris became close friends with Purdy.

“He was the calm and collected one on our end, he was patient and he just had a way of communicating with the students. For me, I was always stressed or overwhelmed and he just had a way of putting things into perspective and being my voice of reason. Our personalities were night and day, but he was always the one who talked me off the cliff on my most stressful days. He was never upset or let things bother him. I think that’s the best way to describe him,” Harris told me.

Students both past and present are showing their appreciation for Purdy in his family all over social media.

One post reads “I absolutely hate school, but you’re one of the very few things that made me feel comfortable there. These next upcoming days are gonna be tough but you’d hit us with that ‘tough it out now.’”

Another reads, “Coach Purdy was a true leader who taught us resilience, teamwork, and integrity. He believed in us, pushed us, and cared deeply even when he would get frustrated with all of our shenanigans on and off the court. He is leaving a legacy that goes far beyond the game.”

Water Valley and Coffeeville will remember Purdy as a kind, witty, and hard-working soul, who saw the best in everyone. He truly wanted to see each student succeed, no matter how hard of a time he might have given them.

The community will celebrate the life of Jason Purdy on Tuesday afternoon. Students, teachers, and everyone alike will have a time of visitation before he is laid to rest at the Coffeeville Cemetery.

We send all the love to the Purdy family as they go through this extremely difficult time. Coach Purdy has touched the lives of a plethora of people over his years at Water Valley, and he will be missed beyond measure.