Pursley BigKnife, 58, passed away on Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Riverton, Wyoming. He was born on March 4, 1968, in Havre, Montana, to Sky-Child and Yvonne (Clare) BigKnife. Pursley attended grade school at Rocky Boy Schools, Box Elder School, and then later he attended Ft. Washakie Elementary School, and on to graduating high school at Wyoming Indian High School, in Ethete Wyoming, a member of the Class of 1987.

Pursley, also known as “Purl Jam” was a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. He was a fun person to be around, he had a good high quality of character where family and friends really enjoyed, he would ALWAYS make people laugh. Pursley was a helpful, loving, and a caring person, Pursley was a person who you can count on and did his best to support others. Pursley was an outstanding basketball player and had the opportunity of playing ball with his brother Walt, who also was another outstanding ball player while attending school in Box Elder, MT.

Pursley enjoyed playing basketball, fishing, fire fighter/ fire bug, traveling to powwows, and he was a grass dancer. He adored his nieces and nephews, and took great pride in his role of “Uncle”.

Pursley was preceded in death by his parents, Sky Child and Yvonne BigKnife; and brother, Walt Jay BigKnife.

He is survived by his siblings, Aaron and Lex Connelly BigKnife, and Mandy Harding, all of whom reside on the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, together with numerous aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.

Wake services will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21, 2026, and will continue until his funeral service, which will be at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, all at the Rocky Boy Help Center. Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.