Mary Lou Pruitt

Born November 15, 1947 in Chicago to Raymond and Emma (Kindred) Hyde, she married David Charles Miller, Sr. She later married Charles C. Pruitt who was her beloved life partner.

Also surviving are one son, David (Beth) Miller, Jr. of Galesburg; one daughter, Dawn (David) Dudley of Peoria Heights; eight grandchildren, Karlie Rainey, Chelsey Vecchio, Brittany Hamilton, Alyssa Vaughn, Kyrstyn (Dakota) Brown, Jackie (Stone) Pruitt, Kaylee (Michael) Roush and Charles Kirkbride, III; fifteen great-grandchildren; two brothers, Ernie Hyde of Peoria and John (Gilberte) Hyde of Prince George, Virginia and three sisters, Peggy Sloan of Oregon, Emma Hayward of Pekin and Lola (Robert) Martinez of Peoria.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one daughter, Julie Ann Kirkbride on December 23, 2024 in Davenport, Iowa; five brothers, Raymond Joseph Hyde, Melvin Lee Hyde, Tommy Jay Hyde, Harold Eugene Hyde and Larry Patrick Hyde and four sisters, Kitty Louvina, Wilma Rae "Susie", Opal Ann and Carol Lee,

Mary was a waitress for many years including at the Lariat Club in Peoria. She last worked as a legal secretary in Peoria.

She was devoted to her grandchildren and enjoyed photography and art. Monthly, she looked forward to lunch with the Chicks. She was also known as a big gift giver. She studied graphic design at Illinois Central College.

A celebration of life gathering for both Mary and her daughter, Julie, will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, August 9, 2025 at Racks on the Rocks, 2800 West Farmington Road in West Peoria. Cremation has been accorded by Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

Memorial contributions may be made to her family.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com