Gerald grew up in Shreveport and was a graduate of Fair Park High School and Northwestern State University where he earned a B.S. and an M.S. plus 30 additional graduate hours in Biology and Education. He served for decades in the Bossier Parish School System first as a Biology teacher at Bossier High School, then as a Science Coordinator, and finally as Supervisor of Secondary Education. Upon retiring, he continued to teach Biology at Bossier Parish Community College for several more years. He enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling the country, and Bible study. He taught Sunday School for more than 50 years at Barksdale Baptist Church, First Baptist Church, and Bellaire Baptist Church, and continued to teach Sunday School up until just a few years ago. He was known for his fierce compassion and willingness to go the extra mile to meet the needs of others. He was devoted to his family and taught his only child, Steve Pruett, both by word and example. One of his favorite lessons was that hardship and hard work are never wasted; they build character. He was one of the great purveyors of “Dad jokes” and had a keen sense of humor. He was a devoted husband to his first wife Mattie J. Pruett whom he met and fell in love with while attending Northwestern State University. Following her death, he fell in love with and remained devoted to Vickie M. Pruett until her death two years ago.
Gerald also deeply loved many other family members who preceded him in death: his parents, Stacy and Euna Pruett, his sister Margie Willeford, brother-in-law Kenneth Drewett, and his daughter-in-law Jackie Pruett. He also dearly loved his family who are left to cherish his memory: son Steve Pruett, grandson Scott Pruett and his wife Dena, granddaughter Stephanie Pruett and her boyfriend Matt, great grandsons Henry and James Pruett, brother Johnie James Pruett (and his three surviving daughters and one who is deceased), nephew Michael Willeford, brother-in-law Hulon Drewett and his wife Wanda, and sister-in-law Maxine Drewett. Additionally, he had many devoted friends and “adopted” children/grandchildren who affectionately referred to him as “Pop” and who continued to visit him and minister to him regularly even as his health declined.
The family wishes to express deep appreciation and gratitude to the staff of the Bloom Assisted Living Facility and caregivers Michael Lee, Connie Garrett, Joann Russell, and Romona Roberson.
Gerald was far too humble to ever claim that the following verses applied to him, but his friends and family contend that they absolutely do: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Services for Gerald will be held Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home at 2pm. Visitation will be held prior to service time Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 12:30pm until 2pm at Hill Crest Memorial Funeral Home. Interment will immediately follow services at Hill Crest Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Bellaire Baptist Church (http://bellairebaptist.org) or the charity of your choice.
