Our Beginnings
Rackley Funeral Home
Established in 1897, B.H. Rackley operated out of his hardware and furniture store on Main Street, before building the existing location at 127 South Canadian, in 1937. The two story structure served many functions, with the downstairs being the funeral home and the upstairs being the family living area. The basement was dug with a horse and dredge to house the coal fired heating unit.
Conner Funeral Home
In 1956, Mr. Rackley sold the funeral home to a Purcell School Teacher, Pat Conner and his wife Euna. They changed the name to Conner Funeral Home in 1956.
Conner-Roberts Funeral Home
Later, the Conner's were joined in business by their daughter, Betty Roberts and husband Jim. Jim’s parents owned a funeral home in Blackwell, OK. After his father’s death in 1974, they moved to Blackwell to operate the Roberts Funeral Home.
Sparlin Funeral Home
In 1974, Bill Sparlin, son of Purcell car dealer, Jody & Bessie Sparlin, bought the funeral home from the Conner family. Bill Sparlin died in a car accident in 1976.
Little's Funeral Home
In 1977, the Sparlin family sold the funeral home to Wendell and Betty Little. Wendell was a close friend of Bill Sparlin. They built a new chapel in 1989 and later upgraded parking on the west side of the property. Wendell and Betty retired in Purcell.
Wilson-Little Funeral Home
In 1995, Tim and Gale Wilson bought the home and changed the name to Wilson-Little Funeral Home. In 2003, Wilson~Little Funeral Home expanded into Newcastle, OK, opening a brand new location. The Wilson family remains steadfast in faith and family and work hard everyday embracing the communities in which we serve.
Today
Today, Wilson-Little Funeral Home is in a new journey. Michael and Amy Tolle continue in our story, serving Purcell, Newcastle, and the surrounding areas, and proudly embrace our 125 year history. The Tolle's moved to Purcell in 2006, and continue to serve the community in many ways. Together, they have raised 3 daughters... Kylie, Madi and Karlee Grace, and consider them to be their greatest joy.
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Michael and Amy Tolle, Funeral Director/Embalmer/Owner
Michael and Amy Tolle are the owners and operators of Wilson-Little Funeral Homes, purchasing the business in January 2020. They grew up in Watonga, OK where their families were lifelong friends. Mike attended the University of Central Oklahoma graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree of Mortuary Science. He served his apprenticeship under Troy Lee and then worked at Vondel Smith & Sons Mortuary in Okla. City. Amy attended Southwestern Oklahoma State where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She then earned her Master’s Degree in Human Relations from the University of Oklahoma. They moved to Altus where Mike worked for Kincannon Funeral Home and Amy as Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) for Jackson County Memorial Hospital. In 2006, they moved to Purcell to be closer to family. Mike worked with Tim and Gale Wilson for nearly 15 years, while Amy worked in private therapy, and for both Wayne and Purcell Schools as a Counselor. Mike has been a Licensed Funeral Director and Professional Embalmer for 24 years. Amy is a Licensed Insurance Agent, Licensed Funeral Director, and a professor for the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. They enjoy simple, small town country living, playing guitar, listening to worship music, sitting on the beach and spending time with their three daughters, Kylie, Madisyn and Karlee Grace.
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Matthew Witten, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Matthew Witten is a Licensed Funeral Director and Professional Embalmer at Wilson-Little Funeral Homes. A Purcell native, he graduated with the Dragon class of 2013. Matthew then attended the University of Oklahoma graduating with a Bachelors in Communication with a minor in Religious Studies, in the Spring of 2018. He began Mortuary School soon after at the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service, graduating in the Summer of 2021. Mathew’s career began at Wilson-Little as an apprentice under Tim Wilson and then transitioned to Mike Tolle. He enjoys spending time with his wife Mary and their three dogs, working on hot rods, playing live music, and serving on the McClain County Museum and Historical Society Board.
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Madisyn Tolle, Funeral Director/Embalmer
Madisyn Tolle is a Licensed Funeral Director/Embalmer. Madi was raised in Purcell and graduated with the Dragon Class of 2019. She attended Murray State College where she earned an Associates of Science in Business in 2021. Madi then graduated Valedictorian from Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in March of 2023. She enjoys working out, going to concerts, reading a good book, and spending time with her sisters.
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Elly Mae, Therapy Dog
Elly Mae, a mini–Golden Doodle, is the newest addition to the Wilson-Little staff. She was born on May 31, 2022 in Elgin, Oklahoma. She is in training and beginning her journey towards becoming a therapy dog. She is pawsitively the perfect addition to our staff. Elly Mae loves being praised, Cheeto puffs for a treat, zooming around the yard and spending time with us here in the office.
