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Carmen Blyth of San Antonio, Texas, passed away at home on February 9 surrounded by loved ones. Maria del Carmen Blyth was born on December 25 1941, to Oscar Blyth and Maria de los Angeles Sandoval Blyth in San Antonio, Texas. The oldest of three girls, Carmen had to work hard from a young age to help the family. She learned to sew her own clothes and the family had a garden where they grew much of the food they ate. Carmen was also extremely bright, skipping part of 1st grade because she came to school already speaking both English and Spanish and able to read in English. Carmen married her Burbank High School sweetheart, Robert "Bobby" Alvarado (d) in 1959. Carmen and Bobby went on to have five children before divorcing in 1972. In 1974 Carmen married LTC Roddin "Rodd" Purswell and had her sixth child. Carmen had a long, faithful, and successful career with the JCPenney Company. She started as a sales clerk, and showed her commitment and skills to management throughout the company. Her family still came first, and for eight years she spent every weekend off driving from Round Rock to San Antonio to help take care of her mother. Carmen's hard work paid off in 1993 when she was promoted to assistant store manager and tasked with opening the first international JCPenney store in Monterrey, Mexico. She lived high on Villa Montana San Pedro Garza Garcia overlooking Monterrey. Her success allowed her to retire in 1998 and move back to her hometown of San Antonio in 2002. Carmen Blyth was preceded in death by her husband Rodd Purswell, her daughter, Carmen Hines, her son-in-law, Paul Hines, her daughter-in-law S.T. Shimi, her mother and father, and her sister, Mary Caroline Willborn. She is survived by her sons, Robert Alvarado and wife Mary Rodriguez, Oscar Alvarado, Paul Alvarado, William Alvarado, and Blyth Purswell and wife Brandi Purswell; her sister, Mary Alice Blyth; her seven grandchildren, Rianna Alvarado, Scott Hines, Jeremy "Ricky" Alvarado, Chelsea Hines, Kai Purswell, Connor Alvarado, and Cailey Purswell; her nine great grandchildren, Tukuli Magee, Angelina Hines, Dominic Corona, Amaea Magee, Eselen Magee, Elijah Alvarado, Zealand Palmer, Aleia Alvarado, and Josiah Alvarado; and numerous nieces and nephews. A rosary will be held on Wednesday, February 21 at Mission Park South Funeral Home. Friends and Family time will begin at 5 pm, with the rosary following at 6:30 pm. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, February 22 at 11 am at St. James The Apostle Catholic Church, followed by a procession to San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery #2 at 12:30 pm, and a reception at 302 W. Silver Sands from 1:30 to 5

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Maria del Carmen Blyth

December 25, 1941 - February 9, 2024