Lee Pruett James

James Lee Pruett, Jr., age 84 of Goodyear, AZ died February 5, 2020, in Goodyear, AZ. He was born November 12, 1935, in Roba, AL the first of nine children born to James Lee and Essie Pruett. He served in the U.S. Army achieving the rank of Sergeant. Jim worked as a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority for 31 years. After retiring he was bored and became engrossed in the Home Shopping Network, so at his family’s insistence, he began driving a bus again. When his first granddaughter was born, he retired to take care of her, then returned to driving again until his grandson was born when he again retired to care for him.  Jim’s family always came first.

Jim loved to play games. Pinochle was his game and he played every weekend. He enjoyed watching sports and was a fan of every Chicago sports team. He collected coins and had a habit of giving his children and grandchildren stacks of crisp, fresh $2 bills.  Always kind, he never had a bad thing to say to anyone. He was everybody’s friend and never failed to wave or stop to chat whenever he passed by.  He loved and respected his wife, daughters, and grandchildren in all that he did and said.

Jim is survived by his wife, Loretta J. Pruett; daughters, Lisa Joseph and Gayle Sanford; sister, Dorothy Laurent; brother, Alto Richardson; and two cherished grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lee Pruett, Sr. and Essie Mae Pruett; and siblings, Sydney Pruett, Cora Tyson, James Hancock, Alma Ashford, Dow L (“DL”) Pruett, Nathaniel (Bud) Pruett, Charles Pruett, and Ed Pruett.

A visitation will be held at 10:00 am followed by a funeral service at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Road, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Burial will be at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona. The family suggests that donations be made to the Leukemia Foundation, https://www.azlfac.org/donations.html. Condolences for the family may be left below.