Eldred Pruitt

Eldred “El” Pruitt, 83, passed away from a brief illness (he was disabled by dementia but it did not kill him. He was actually doing very well) on the evening of Jan, 25th with his family surrounding him in their home on family land on the Brazos River in beautiful Palo Pinto mountains, where six generations of Pruitts have loved, lived and roamed.
He was the only child of Wm. E. Pruitt and Lena Mae McFadden, until his baby sister, Marsha Kay, was born as he was playing his last high school football game. Although they were years apart and Eldred was sometimes jealous (LOL)they always enjoyed a close, loving relationship.He never fully forgave his parents for going to California to work in a battery factory during WW2 and having him while there instead of in TX.
He graduated from Mineral Wells High School and kept in touch with many classmates , maintained close relationships with several for life and was active in the alumni club.
His parents, grandparents and extended family, including many adoring cousins did such a good job convincing him that the sun rose and set for him alone that it took Glenda years to teach him otherwise. He attended TexasTech College, then proudly served in the USN. He owned a restaurant in Brady, TX for several years and eventually moved to Arlington and married an Arlington native, Glenda Rash Horan. Their primary home has remained in Arlington. They planned to eventually retire to their country home but that time never came. Four years ago they had bought a house off of TX Flip and Move TV show and had it moved to the family land. They enjoyed restoring it to it’s 1940 era before El became disabled.
He attended TCJC(TCC) and Arlington State College(UTA) graduating with a BBA. He then went work at Tarrant County Health Dept. He enjoyed a long employment with the City of Euless, retiring in 1996 so he could be the caretaker and companion to special needs son. The last words he was able to speak were
“Where’s Kayle?”. He and Kayle enjoyed taking care of the horses and cows on the family ranch.He loved coaching for Special Olympics for many years.They were in the group of parents that developed Advocates for Special People, a service organization dedicated to serving the needs of children with IDD who have finished school.
He was happy ,loved to laugh, never worried and loved socializing with people.He always knew the name of every clerk in the grocery stores. The grandchildren said they would always remember watching The three Stooges with him laughing until he cried.A game of golf with friends was always high on his priority list. He finally made that dreamed of Hole in ONE several years ago. He was very good at delegating, assigning task, like telling Neal to rake the leaves of over a hundred oak trees on their two acre yard, directing Glenda to sit on top of a mattress that was being moved on a trailer down the street or directing her to stand in a dead end fence corner as he drove cattle toward her and a trailer. He was always ready to go, taking the family on many trips. He was very generous and enjoyed tipping big. He was a believer in Jesus Christ and a long time member of FielderChurch and devoted several years to the Celebrate Recovery Program.

He was proceeded in death by his beloved son, Neal, in 2007. Dear brother-in-laws -James Willmann, Thomas”Butch” Smith, Wesley D.Rash; special nephew-Kenn Rash; cousins that were like brothers-Ron White, ClydeSeaman and Kenneth Seaman .
He is survived by his sister Marsha Davis(Roy) of Mineral Wills.wife Glenda Pruitt, son Kayle Ryan, step-daughter Kari Horan Lawrence; Neal’s widow, Connie Pruitt of Baytown, Grandchildren- Candice Pruitt Beadles(Keith),Brady . Pruitt(Kassidy),Colby Pruitt(Maddie) all of Baytown; BrynnMae McCausey Reston ,VA and Chase McCausey, who the family greatly appreciates for moving from Denver two years ago to help care for his GrandDad, Inigo and Sebastian Torrez, of Arlington .Seven great grand children - Mason,Anniston and Janci Beadles; Kennadi, Paityn and Maddex Pruitt and Casey Pruitt all of Baytown,TX Niece, Ami Davis Tincher and nephew Brandon Davis;Great nieces-Hailey, Abbey, Macey and Kinsley Tincher and Danni Jo Davis;Great nephew,Dylan Davis, all of Mineral Wells and a host of Dear cousins.
Some of his ashes will be spread on the family land that he loved so much and the remainder will be buried in the historic Johnson Station Cemetery, Arlington, in a plot next to the grave of Glenda’s beloved first grade teacher, Beatrice Short, who taught at the Johnson Station School that was next to the cemetery until it replaced with a 7-11 store years ago.