Ricky Anthony Pursley

Ricky Anthony Pursley, 60, passed away peacefully at Tobey Hospital surrounded by his family in Wareham, Massachusetts on Thursday, June 11, 2015. He was born and raised in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts on July 11, 1954 to Gene Pursley and Evelyn (Silveira) Pursley.

He is predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Everett and Bertie Julia (White) Pursley, his maternal grandparents, Antone and Carolinda (Avila) Silveira; by his parents Gene and Evelyn (Silveira) Pursley; his uncle, Milton A. Silveira. He is also predeceased by his youngest daughter, Rianna S. Pursley. He is survived by his daughters, Carinda (Pursley) Soulos and husband, Perry; Julia (Pursley) Fill and husband, Dan. He is also survived by his aunt, Alberta “Birdie” Silveira; cousin, Leland Silveira and wife, Lara; cousin, Doug Silveira; cousin, Carolyn Krumrey and husband, Bill; cousin, Scott Silveira and wife, Susan.

Ricky was a proud graduate of Old Rochester Regional High School, 1972, and Boston University (B.A. Political Science) 1976. He attended Southwestern University School of Law from 1976-1978. He moved to Arlington, Virginia in 1980 where he worked for Arnold & Porter as a Legal Copyeditor (1980-1985) in Washington, D.C. Arnold & Porter merged into Fisher Wayland Cooper Leader & Zaragoza LLP where he worked as an Information Services Manager and Research Librarian (1985-1997). The company underwent another merge and became Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP where he worked as a Communications Analyst (1997-2005). In 2005 he was laid off from Shaw Pittman LLP and began to pursue his passion of writing as a professional career. He worked as a writer, editor, reporter, and journalist until his death.

In 2009 he moved from Arlington, Virginia back to his hometown, Mattapoisett, MA to help care for his elderly mother. He resided in Mattapoisett until his death, during this time he worked for a variety of newspapers including The Wanderer, The Sentinel, and The Standard-Times. He worked closely with his beloved friend and Sentinel Editor Chris Reagle. During this time he wrote dozens of short stories and poems. His poetry collection, Songs from the Road, was published in 2012 by Grace Notes Books. He was also published in numerous online and local magazines. In 2011 he began to have various health issues which led to his death. He was able to spend the last years of his life writing, reading, and having intellectual discussions with other writers and poets. He will always be remembered through his stories and poems and will be missed by all that knew and loved him.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Ned’s Point in Mattapoisett, MA. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

 

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