TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Jon Purifoy McCarty, a dedicated educator and loving mother, was born and raised in Harrisburg, Arkansas, until the age of nine, when her family relocated to Helena/West Helena, Arkansas. She pursued her higher education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she met her beloved late husband, Judge Philip Purifoy, whom she married when she was just 19 years old. After their marriage, the couple moved to Mississippi, where Mrs. Purifoy McCarty completed her college education and obtained a teaching degree from Ole Miss. She dedicated a year as a first-year teacher in Mississippi, fearlessly taking on the responsibilities of teaching seventh-grade English, managing the high school library, and overseeing a homeroom filled with 50 lively tenth-grade boys. The Purifoys eventually made their way to Texarkana, where Jon’s professional career in education spanned three decades at Texarkana Arkansas School District. There, she served in various roles from 1969 to 1999. Throughout her tenure, she excelled as an elementary teacher, middle school teacher, and gifted and talented educator, leaving a lasting impact on the students she taught. Following her retirement from TASD and the passing of her husband, Philip, Jon continued her teaching career at the Genoa School District, where she shared her passion for education as a gifted and talented instructor. During this time, Jon found love and companionship again with Jim McCarty, a childhood friend she had known since the fifth grade. Both having experienced loss, the two forged a deep and lasting bond, bringing joy and fulfillment into each other’s lives. After their marriage, Jim humorously remarked on Jon’s extensive circle of friends and ex-students, joking that he should have been the one to change his name. Together, Jon and Jim embraced a future filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories, celebrating the enduring happiness they found in each other’s company. Jon Purifoy McCarty
LEGEND IN EDUCATION
20
COMMUNITY & CULTURE
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