Killeen's newest home builder is making her presence known.  Recently at the Central Texas Builders Parade of Homes Award presentation Cristina Purser accepted an award for "Best Exterior" Single Family Homes 1800-2500 Sq. Ft. Category.  Proud parents JoAnn and Gary Purser, Jr. and her brother Ben Purser were watching as Cristina gave her acceptance speech.  "Thank you" was the only words spoken.  Not bad for her first home built.

Purser Homes is a family owned business newly formed but the knowledge goes years back.  Ben O. Purser and Gary Purser, Sr. started as a father and son team building garages, additions, and eventually custom homes.  Gary Purser Sr built commercial buildings in Killeen to include Central Texas College Library and the Killeen Police Department. Gradually Gary, Sr. entered in the land development market developing commercial and residential lots for builders.  Later in the mid 1970's his son Gary Purser, Jr. came to work with the family business building commercial structures and eventually learning land development.

Gary, Jr. and his wife JoAnn in 1999 formed a small rental company called Bentina Rentals named after their children.  They have been building and renting duplexes to families and have had life changing experiences to include soldiers being deployed to Iraq and having no one care for their personal finances and belongings except their landlord.  Relationships and friendships have formed with the families that have lived and are continuing to live in their properties.

Naturally the eventual move to building homes came about with the recent graduation of Cristina from UMHB in December 2004.  JoAnn and Cristina take their style and elegance into creating homes for families.  Attention to detail is the first remark this team of female home builders most often hear.  With the business and experience foundation already in place by the Purser family there is no reason to think that Purser Homes should not go far and become a household name.