Retired Navy Captain Claire Haynes Purdy of Cape St. Claire, Annapolis, MD died on January 24, 2025.

Capt Purdy was born in Haverhill, MA to Lucille Legasse Haynes and Forrest Haynes.  She was raised in Danvers, MA.

She graduated from Holton High School at the the age of 16 and then attended Boston College School of Nursing.  Capt Purdy was commissioned in the United States Navy Nurse Corps upon graduation in 1959 and began her long illustrious career.  Capt. Purdy was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California; Guam; Navy Recruiting Command Boston; Corps School, Great Lakes IL; and Annapolis Naval Health Clinic, Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD.  Capt. Purdy transferred to the United States Navy Reserve in 1972.  She continued to serve in the reserve until 1991 when she was recalled to Active Duty in 1991 due to the Gulf War.  Capt Purdy retired from the United States Navy in June 1992 after serving 33 years.  After transferring to the Reserves she began another career of caring and selflessness working as a Nurse with Genesis Nursing Home in Severna Park, MD.  Capt. Purdy would retire from Genesis Nursing Home in 2003 but continued working with the facility as an administrative contractor.

Capt. Purdy was an active member of the community as well.  Capt Purdy was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, serving as assistant troop leader with Troop 783, in Cape St. Claire, MD.  She was also active in the financial side of the Boy Scouts conducting numerous Friends of Scouting donation speeches throughout the years.  She was also a recipient of the distinguished Silver Beaver Award.  In addition to Scouting, Capt. Purdy also served the church.  Born and raised a devout Catholic, Capt. Purdy found solstice as a member of St. Andrews by the Bay from its infancy as a new Catholic Church on the outskirts of Annapolis until her recent cancer diagnosis that prevented her from attending services.  There she served as a Lector, and as a Eucharistic Minister, always willing to give a hand whenever or wherever she was needed.  She also had a love of bowling, being a member of two leagues, at Severna Park Bowling Lanes and Annapolis Bowl.  She participated until she was physically unable, coming home excited to tell us about her games and how she and the teams did.

Capt. Purdy was a member of the Fleet Reserve Association, serving as President of Branch 24 located in Annapolis, MD and serving as the East Coast Regional President from 2007-2008.  She also performed and attended many other functions with the branch as well as regionally.

She is survived by her sons; Loren Purdy (predeceased Raquel), John Purdy (Dee), and Forrest Purdy (Carolyn); her grand children Joseph, Cormac, Tiernan, Kylie, Evelyn, Claire, and Connor; her brothers Robert and Kenneth.  She is predeceased by her loving and devoted husband Randolph and her sister Margeret - aka Midge.

In lieu of flowers please donate in her name to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Donor Services PO Box 22324 New York, NY 10087, https://www.lls.org/

Family and friends may visit on Tuesday February 4, 2025 from 2-4 and 6-8pm at Barranco Funeral Home, 495 Ritchie Hwy Severna Park MD, 21146. A funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday February 5, 2025 at 11am at St. Andrew by the Bay Catholic Church, 701 College Parkway, Annapolis MD 21409. She will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday August 6, 2025 at 9:00am.