ILION - Mr. John Michael "Mike" Purcell, age 67, a lifelong Ilion resident, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 12, 2015, at the Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare Center. Born in Ilion on March 27, 1948, Mike was the son of the late John O. Purcell and Anne (Stagg) Purcell Tiel. He also knew the love and support of his stepfather, William Tiel. He attended Ilion schools and was a graduate of Ilion High School. Upon completion of his schooling, Mike went to work and spent the majority of his career as an auto mechanic, most recently with Orion Bus Industries in Oriskany. He also worked for a time alongside his stepfather as a member of a survey team. Mike was a man dedicated to his Catholic faith. He was a member of the Church of the Annunciation in Ilion and a former member of the Pastoral Council. He involved himself in his community through his membership in the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 1444 and was a past member of the United Auto Workers. In his spare time, he enjoyed watching sports and was an avid fan of the NY Yankees. Mike is survived by his sister, Marianne Shepherd Lee and her husband, Francis Lee of Sauquoit, and his family; his brother, Timothy J. Purcell and his wife, Lynne, of Alta Loma, CA; his nephews, Daniel J. Purcell, of CA, Sean Shepherd and Blythe Huestis, of Scottsdale, AZ, Ryan Shepherd and his wife, Nicole, of Buffalo, and Thomas Shepherd and his wife, Bree of Chandler, AZ; his great-niece, Taylor Shepherd; and his great-nephews, Sawyer Shepherd and Keane Shepherd. He also leaves his stepfather, William S. "Bill" Tiel, of Oneonta; his stepsisters, Lynne Stone and her husband, John, and Mary Thuma and her husband, David; his aunts, H. Elizabeth Stagg, of Syracuse, and Rita Morrison, of Florida; along with numerous cousins in New York, New Jersey and Florida, with special mention of Lori Geise and her husband, Thomas, and Jayne Stagg, all of Ilion, and William Stagg, of Frankfort. It would be remiss not to mention Mike's long time friend, Tom Farnham, of NC, and all of his "Buds" at J.D.'s Lounge in Ilion. Besides his parents, Mike was predeceased by his brother-in-law, Thomas R. Shepherd, II, and a special cousin, Lindsay Stagg. Friends and relatives are invited to attend Mike's funeral service, which will be held at 8:30AM, Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Applegate-Day & Enea Family Funeral Home's newly reopened home at 102 West St., Ilion, and at 9:30AM from the Church of the Annunciation, where his Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Paul Catena, Pastor. Calling hours will be held on Friday evening, April 17, 2015, from 4:00PM - 6:00PM at the funeral home at 102 West St., Ilion. Members of the Ilion Elks Lodge 1444 will conduct their ritualistic service at 5:45 from the funeral home. Interment will take place at Armory Hill Cemetery, Ilion. Anyone wishing to share a memory of Mike, or add to his online memorial, may visit www.applegateandday.com Memorial contributions may be made to the Ilion Ambulance Fund, Central Fire Station, Ilion, NY 13357 or to the Church of the Annunciation, 109 West St., Ilion, NY 13357. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Mike's funeral service and supervision were prearranged and entrusted to his family Funeral Director and long time friend, Don Applegate, and Funeral Director, Martin Ciaccia.