Cornelius Thomas "Neil" Pruitt, Sr. Obituary (1931

Mr. Cornelius Thomas "Neil" Pruitt Sr., age 94, of Madison, Indiana entered this life on May 16, 1931 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the loving son of the late Rev. Russell Franklin and Mildred Louise Kenton Pruitt. He was raised in Brown County, Petersburg, and Charlestown, Indiana and had graduated from North Vernon High School in 1949. He had attended college for three and a half years at Indiana University Southeast. On October 25, 1951 he was united in marriage to Alice Marie Mercer at the First Christian Church of Scottsburg in Scottsburg, Indiana. This happy union of 74 years was blessed with a daughter, Sherri Marie and a son, C. Thomas "Tom", Jr. Neil and Alice had resided in Madison the past 70 years. Neil had worked for the old Pearl Packing Company and the Barber Grocery Company. He had retired in 1994 from the Madison State Hospital in Madison where he worked for a total of 17 years as an activity therapist. He was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church in Madison since 1956 and had served as a Deacon, trustee, choir member, and Sunday School teacher. He served as a past master for the Union Lodge No. 2 F. & A.M., held membership with the Madison Lions Club, where he served as president twice, was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow Award, and he helped write and present the Lion's Club "We Serve" Scholarship Award to a graduate at Madison Consolidated High School, Southwestern High School and Shawe Memorial High School each year. Neil sang with Fern and the Gang, was a member of the Rivertown Music Men Barbershop Chorus, and sang with the Louisville Thoroughbred Men's Chorus in Jeffersontown. Neil enjoyed woodworking, singing and being with his family. Neil died on Monday, January 19, 2026, at 3:50 p.m. at the Thornton Terrace Health Campus in Hanover, Indiana. Please Click Here to View the Video Tribute Please Click Here to View the Funeral Service Recording A LOVING FAMILY Neil will be missed by his loving wife of 74 years, Alice Marie Mercer Pruitt of Madison, Indiana; his loving daughter, Sherri Marie Pruitt Brandon of Madison, Indiana; his loving son, C. Thomas "Tom" Pruitt, Jr. and his wife, Tami of Austin, Texas; his grandchildren, Kasey Lee Bradley (Katie), Kenton Lee Bradley (Jamie), Tanner P. Pruitt, and Hailey Pruitt; his step grandchildren, Anthony D. Brandon (Dawn) and Jennifer Hay (Randy); his great-grandchildren, Ava Simone Bradley and Friday Luna Bradley; his step great-grandchildren, Bailee Brandon Binzer (Matthew), Brynna Brandon, and Brock Brandon; his great-great-granddaughter, Georgia Binzer; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, Rev. Russell Franklin Pruitt, died April 4, 1946, his mother, Mildred Louise Kenton Pruitt, died May 18, 1972, his son-in-law, David Brandon, died October 23, 2023, and his sisters, Rosalind Annett, Janet Pruitt, and Margaret Ellen Sutton. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., by Rev. Randy Crutchfield at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Scottsburg Cemetery in Scottsburg, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may visit, Saturday, January 31, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. MASONIC SERVICEUnion Lodge No. 2 F. & A.M. will conduct a service at 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. LIONS CLUB SERVICEThe Lions Club will conduct a service at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com To Place An Online Memorial Donation Please Click Here To send a flower arrangement in memory of Cornelius Thomas "Neil" Pruitt, Sr., please click here to visit our sympathy store.