Killeen's newest homebuilder is
making her presence known. Recently at the Central Texas
Builders Parade of Homes Awards 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.
Bentina 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 homebuilders most
often hear. With the business and experience foundation already
in place by the Purser family there is no reason to think that
Bentina Homes should not go far and become a household name.