Jess Pruitt, 94, of Etowah died on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Osceola.

A member of the Etowah Baptist Church, Pruitt was a retired merchant. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Maudine Celeste Pruitt Griffith and his wife, Inez Cynthia Ann Low Pruitt.

Survivors include three sons, Jimmy Pruitt of Osceola, Jerry Pruitt of Fort Smith and Teddy Pruitt of Wilson; two daughters, Peggy Sheffield of Tucson, Ariz. and Patsy Kimbrell of North Little Rock; one sister, Captola Range of Belleville, Ill.; 21 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Etowah Baptist Church with Rev. W. G. Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Garden Point Cemetery in Etowah. Mr. Pruitt's grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be held from 5:30 -- 8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17. Memorials may be made to the Etowah Baptist Church.