Ka'a'a'wa crash victim was devoted father of 6
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer
KANE'OHE — The man killed Monday in a head-on crash near the Crouching Lion Inn was a single father of six who built his life around his church and his children.
Purdy family photo
Wesley Purdy, 42, of 'Ahuimanu Road, was on his way to work in Hau'ula at about 6:10 a.m. when a flatbed truck crossed the center line on Kamehameha Highway and collided with the van he was driving. He apparently died at the scene.
Ka'a'awa accident victim Wesley Purdy, center, with his family in 1999. Clockwise from top left: Nadine Purdy, now his ex-wife; son Gavin; son Austin; son Bryson; and son Mickey. (There are also two girls in the family, Sara and Mary.)
Purdy's former mother-in-law, Judith Bailey, said he was a strong church man who worked and took care of four of his children, ages 5 to 16. The oldest son, 20, lived with his mother nearby.
Despite a divorce, Purdy was close to his ex-wife and the family was together, Bailey said. Another of the six children, Purdy's older daughter, lives on the Big Island.
"The church and the children were his life," Bailey said. "You couldn't ask for a better son-in-law."
He struggled to make ends meet but he made do with what he had, Bailey said.
Her daughter — Purdy's ex-wife — agreed.
"He was a good father, a good provider, and wonderful to the kids, who love and adore him," said Nadine Purdy.
Wesley Purdy was always happy, a friendly guy who would talk to strangers, Bailey said, especially since turning his life around about 10 years ago and becoming a born-again Christian and learning to deal with his anger.
"His inner peace was amazing to me," she said. "He didn't let anger take over his life when he converted."
Purdy is survived by his children, Gavin, 20, Sara, 18, Bryson, 16, Austin, 14, Mickey, 9, and Mary, 5; his mother, Leilani Purdy; two sisters; and a brother.
Purdy worked for the state Department of Transportation for 14 years, department spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.
Austin Purdy said his father was very involved with the Assembly of God Church Red Hill. He was a disciplinarian but a gentle man, Austin said.
"He was a good dad," he said.
Staff writer Mike Leidemann contributed to this report. Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
