Serving Generations Since 1913

Founder Robert Samson was a joiner by trade and set up the company in 1913. As was common around this time, he made coffins and as an extension to this, conducted funerals for his customers. Robert’s son George joined the business and they expanded the joinery base to provide housebuilding, caravan construction, tree surgery as well as coffin manufacture. George eventually succeeds his father as owner manager. Following George’s death in 1962, his own son, also Robert (Bob) and a masterjoiner, and wife Sheila, take over the reins. In 1965, they acquire James L Wallace in Dundee and a decade later, close the joinery side of his business to focus solely on funerals. Nine years later in 1984, their son David, joined the company and in 2000 took over
as Managing Director for the next 16 years. In 2015, David sought out another family business with ethics and experience to take on the legacy of his own. William Purves, with its five generations and reputation for premier funeral services was a natural fit. Today our values of compassion, dedication, integrity and respect are at the heart of Robert Samson and James L Wallace. The five-strong team continue supporting bereaved families in Broughty Ferry and the wider Dundee area and earning their trust.

William Purves history

 

Helping you honour their life

As the final ritual of life, a funeral is our way of saying goodbye, honouring a life lived and a life loved. Funerals play an important role in our grieving process and often we can feel a huge responsibility to get it right. Which is why we start with the view that every funeral is unique and every funeral is special. In years to come we want you to look back without regret and take comfort from the way you laid your loved one to rest. We have been guiding and supporting families through bereavement for many generations. Let our family help your family by sharing with you the wealth of understanding and experience we have gathered over the years.