Preston is an only child. He came into the world on a beautiful Fall Day, October 15, 1985, at South Austin Hospital, in Austin TX with Dr. Donald Ward, doctor and Godfather, in attendance. He weighed 7 pounds and measured 17 inches. He came 3 weeks early and had an immature liver and jaundice which kept him in the hospital for another 2 days. Then at home, he was under a bilirubin light for another week. I think it may have been a grow light! The pediatrician said he could be 6’7” tall. He grew to 6’6”.

Preston leaves behind: his wife, Deonne Langley Purviance and stepdaughter, Rain Ernst of Lakewood, CO; one daughter, Aaralyn-Marie Patricia Purviance of Leadville, CO; In-laws Jerry and Karolyn Langley of Lakewood, CO; parents Ron and Kathy Purviance of Leadville and Denver, CO; many Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and friends. He loved both Aaralyn and Rain. Several of Preston’s first and second cousins were so close in age that he considered them his brothers and sisters.

Early life was living in the Dome Home his father built in Manchaca, Hays County, TX. He attended Buda Elementary Primary School with honors. He loved baseball and excelled at pitching, first base, and outfielder because of his strong arm. College scouts were looking at him at 10 years old. From playing Little League in TX and High School in Buena Vista Colorado he has 6 no-hitters. He averaged an incredible 2.47 strikeouts per inning one season in Texas!

He was baptized at St. Catherines Catholic Church in Austin TX and made his First Communion at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Austin TX. He was an Altar Boy at Annunciation Catholic Church in Leadville until Fr. Tom Killeen “fired” him for outgrowing the vestments the church provided. He was confirmed at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Buena Vista CO.

The family moved to Leadville in 1996, and Preston attended Lake County Middle School and played sports. Preston loved snowboarding. Treatment from a snowboarding injury affected the rest of his life.  He graduated from Buena Vista High School in Buena Vista CO where played High School baseball and Babe Ruth baseball including All-Stars. The cold weather took a toll on his pitching arm, and he never pursued baseball after HS. He was so outgoing and a natural leader and vivacious that he made friends easily. They were like brothers and sisters to him. They came in all shapes and sizes, gender, races, colors, and nationality and beliefs.

Preston started college at Pima College in Tucson Arizona and then attended Mesa State University in Grand Junction CO and studied geology. He also studied geology at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Two weeks before his passing he talked about going back to school to finish his geology degree. While he was there he and his dad attended MSU baseball games and there was no doubt that he could have played even with his arm/elbow condition.

Preston loved Aaralyn dearly and in her early life they were inseparable. As she grew the relationship between him and her mother became strained and his contact with Aaralyn became less and less but his love for his daughter never changed. Two weeks before his passing he was making plans to move back to Leadville where could be closer to her and he said he would do everything he could do to have her back in his life.

Preston met Deonne while on a geology field trip to Europe in 2012.  They married in 2020. They were inseparable until his passing. Preston talked often about Deonne’s parents, Jerry and Karolyn Langley, and her daughter, Rain. He loved them all dearly. Jerry and Preston shared a love of baseball.

Among Preston’s many interests were music, geology, history, sports, and travel. He liked motorcycles from dirt bikes to road bikes and once rode all the way to the West Coast on one.

Reflecting back on the last few weeks of his life, knowing that Preston was planning on finishing his degree and most importantly, having Aaralyn back in his life, I can’t help but wonder if deep down he knew something and what might have been if he was still with us.

God rest his soul. Gone but not forgotten.