Parker M. Pruitt

Parker was born on September 29, 1921 in Bower, Oklahoma to James Alan and Lula Mae (Harris) Pruitt. At the age of fifteen, he joined the CC Camp and worked in Colorado, Wyoming, and California. In 1942, Parker was summoned home from California and joined the United State Navy. He served as Petty Officer, 2nd Class, in the Southwest Pacific during WWII, receiving five wartime service medals. After the war, Parker came back to Eufaula, where he met and then married Bernice Allen on July 18 1946. After living in California for a short time, he and Bernice moved back to Eufaula to raise their family. Parker and Bernice owned and operated a service station on Main Street. After selling the service station, he and Bernice opened a little side street café, which they operated for a few years. Parker moved his family west of town and started farming and raising cattle. He loved to buy and sell cattle. After his wife passed, Parker moved back to town. Later, he met and married Wynema Joplin. They shared seventeen years together, before she became ill and went to an assisted living facility. Parker loved visiting the local coffee shops and car dealerships. His hobby was looking for bargains anywhere he could. In his later years, Parker worked and helped build a dry storage business. He was rough around the edges and very straight forward. Parker was a great father, friend, and a man of integrity and honor. Survivors include: sons: Dan Pruitt and wife, Teresa; Douglas Pruitt and wife, Carol, both of OKC, OK; Michael Pruitt and wife, Cosette, of Purcell, OK; and Marshall Pruitt and wife, Linda, of Eufaula, OK; his precious friend, companion, and wife of seventeen years, Willie Wynema Pruitt, of McAlester, OK; step son, Thomas Royer, of Sedalia, MO; step daughters: Sharon Smith, of Wilburton, OK; Beryl Wagoner; Karen Powell, both of Hartshorne, OK; thirteen grandchildren; and seventeen great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents, James and Mae Pruitt; his first wife, Bernice Pruitt in 1991; three brothers: Otis, Benny, and Eddie Pruitt; and five sisters: Pauline Fraley, Stella Chapman, Lula Buie, Betty Jo Freeman, and Mary Jane Williams.