Betty Jean Pruitt

Betty died peacefully on December 12th surrounded by her 3 daughters. She was born on June 25, 1932 in Memphis Tennessee to Neely Raymond and Lorraine Pirtle Byrum. She started as a curly haired blonde who frequented the pageant circuit and grew into a true Southern hostess, always impeccably dressed, complete with jewelry and lipstick. She received her teaching degree from Memphis State and loved being able to teach in the school that she attended growing up. While at Memphis State she met Robert Pruitt who quickly decided she was “the one” for him and crashed her date with one of his friends. They were married on July 30, 1955. Robert was in the Air Force for 30 years where Betty mentored and entertained faithfully beside him. Not only was she responsible for helping her kids integrate and make new friends at each assignment., she helped other Air Force wives do the same. She tirelessly served in her communities through endless PTA events, Air Force committees, Delta Zeta activities and the Assistance League of San Antonio. When she wasn’t serving she loved to shop country chic boutiques and look for red foxes.

She loved being Mom to Paul, Deidra, Candy, Rick, Kathy and Goldie;Grandmama to Chase and Morgan; and GG to Davis and Shelby. True to her Southern roots to the end she left us with a fresh coat of lipstick and “I love y'all. I’m sorry, I have to go now.”