Early Life
Johnny Purvis was born to John and Emma Jo Purvis in 1942. His father gave his life in the service of his country on February 20, 1945 with the U.S. Marines on Iwo Jima in World War II. His mother was devastated, and it seemed to have an effect on Johnny, who had physical problems of his own. At six years old, he would cry and become terrified to go to school and hold his mother. At school, he always sat near the teacher, and if fights broke out between students at school he would cry or do his best to avoid them.
As he grew up, he could not keep up with his peers academically and his relationships with girls was shaky at best. A doctor diagnosed him with chronic undifferentiated schizophrenia. He would spend his time watching television or eating out with his mother and stepbrother Mike Bartlett. Occasionally, Johnny would suffer panic attacks. He was known for his unusual behavior.
Read more about this topic: John Gordon Purvis
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