Lockie Pruitt

Lockie Louise Pruitt, 102, born 11-11-11, residing at Beebe Retirement Center, Beebe, Arkansas, went to meet her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on November 18, 2013. She is finally at PEACE and REST.

Lockie was a devout Christian and member of The First Baptist Church, Maumelle, Arkansas. She was always physically active (walking 2 miles a day up until age 100) and attributed her longevity to living a Christian life, never telling a lie, never drinking alcohol or smoking but "drinking one Dr. Pepper a day" (she should have been paid a royalty for the advertisement that she gave the soft drink company). During World War II she worked at an ammunition plant in Jacksonville and would enjoy telling the story about her duties. She carried the gunpowder box back and forth to stations in the plant and when walking would always shout out "POWDER" whenever anyone approached so they would know there was danger.

Lockie loved to do hand work (knitting, crocheting, stitchery) and her dusty rose National Star afghan won 1st Place Blue Ribbon, Class Champion, and Division Champion in the 2000 Alaska State Fair. She was very proud of that accomplishment. While raising her family she never worked outside the home but to help her husband she took in ironing for other people and baby sat children at times having 6 to 8 babies that she cared for on a daily basis and always had a big spread sitting on the table at dinner time.

One of her favorite memories that she used to while away the hours that she would spend with needle in hand is of growing up in the countryside of Beebe. Her parents, Ray and Dollie Belew, owned a 400-acre farm and Lockie, the youngest of 9 siblings, shared in the duties - often missing school to tend to chores.

Lockie was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Eschol Lee Pruitt, her parents, 4 sisters, 4 brothers, and 1 son, Claude Earl Pruitt.

She is survived by daughters, Virginia Fitzgibbon, Beckie Smith, Jackie Brown (Paul); two sons, James Pruitt and Roger Belew; 13 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren, and a host of extended family and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Beebe Retirement Center for their love, support, and great care extended to our Mother and Grandmother.

Memorials may be sent to Antioch Cemetery Fund c/o Joe T. Belew, 535 Louie Pruitt Road, Beebe, Arkansas 72012.

Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, November 21, 2013, at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, with burial in Antioch Cemetery.

Arrangements by Westbrook Funeral Home, a Smith Family Funeral Home.