LAVON E. PRUITT

SPRINGFIELD- Services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, March 19, at Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel in Springfield for Lavon “Gingi” Elaine Pruitt, 76, who died at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2018, surrounded by her family in her home in Springfield. Burial was in Mount Tabor Cemetery in Ava.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri, 3161 W. Norton Rd., Springfield, MO 65803 or Stand Up to Cancer at www.standuptocancer.org and click on donate.

Survivors include two daughters, Brenda O’Connell and husband Tim, Springfield and Kim O’Sullivan and husband Pat, Lamar; four granddaughters, Megan Cardellini and husband Carlo, Portland, Ore., Mallory O’Connell, Denver, Colo., Madison Petersen and husband Micah, Tulsa, Okla. and Erin O’Sullivan, Springfield; her favorite furry friend, Kiki; two sisters, Phyllis Hawkins and Pat Thomas and three brothers, Allen Stafford, Terry Stafford and Leroy Stafford.

She was preceded in death by a son, Jerry and a sister, Virginia Thurman.

Mrs. Pruiett was born May 7, 1941, in Ava, to Jessie and Albert Stafford. She attended Ava High School and retired after many faithful years of work at Lilly/Tulip/Sweetheart Cup.

One could find Lavon walking in laps around Cooper Park, hanging out with “her girls”, watching MSU basketball, reading books, attending The Church at Webster Park, checking in on all of her friends and surprising everyone with an occasionally witty comment. Though small in stature, she was mighty in love.

She married Cletis Pruiett on June 21, 1958. He preceded her in death after 57 years of marriage.