Mary Lou Pruett

Preceding her in this journey are her parents, Daniel Hobart Pruett and Delsie Marie Pruett; her soul mate and partner in crime, Larry Eugene Mattert; her “lovely, spirited daughter”, Nila Renee Scott; brothers Harry Archie “Bud” Pruett, Hobart Golden "Hody" Pruett, Howard Amos Pruett; and her sister Shirley Iris Wilson.

The 5th of her parents 9 children, Mary came to us on June 26, 1928 in Van Lear, Kentucky (unofficially recorded as “The day the world became a better place”) she was most definitely the “middle child”. We believe that her father didn’t like her name because he gave her a new one, always calling her “Lou La Belle”.

Mary must have loved children (or maybe it was alcohol) because together she and Larry made 8 children of their own. She is survived by 7, (all of them still looking “hot” for their age): Darlene June Cazares (Ernie), Margo Jeanne Gage (David), Jada Rae Mattert-Gurley (Richard), Larry Vern Mattert, Amber Dawn McCall (Michael), Tracy Alan Mattert (Terrie) and Jamie Lynn Mattert (Todd Coen).

Mary was a waitress at Smitty’s Restaurant in Phoenix for over 25 years. Always giving 100%, doing her very best at whatever task was at hand, Mary became the most popular waitress Smitty’s would ever have. She made her customers feel as if they were family, creating a fan club of customers who would wait to sit until there was an open booth in her section. Mary trained most all the new employees, so when you’re out to dinner and have super great service… bet that either Mary trained your server or trained the person that trained your server.

Along with her success in the work world, Mary was equally successful at motherhood. Her compassionate and loving ways, strong work ethic, morals, values and sense of pride filtered down to her children. Together, all eight of her kids are a mirror image of who Mary Lou Pruett is, was and will always be: sincerely kind, thoughtful, caring, witty, strong, loving, smart, compassionate and modest. Her children also learned the joy of parenthood (or maybe it was alcohol) as they all had children of their own giving Mary a total of 20 grandchildren who, in turn, gave her 29 great grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

Having “free time” after her retirement from Smitty’s, Mary lovingly dedicated the last 16 years of her life to her three youngest grandchildren (Jennifer, Cheyenne and Dane), helping, playing, teaching, babysitting, listening to them and enjoying their everyday growth and successes.

Daughter, sister, wife, sister-in-law, mother, aunt, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, great-great grandmother & friend, Mom, you have worn many hats and have had many responsibilities. Each roll you have played has been the most important one and you have left your mark on this earth. Anyone who has ever known you by any of the above titles has been blessed…has been forever touched and changed for the better. You have left your fingerprint on our hearts… Your love continues…

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 12:00 (Noon), at Mariposa Gardens Cemetery Chapel, 6747 East Broadway Road, Mesa, Arizona, with family receiving friends from 10:00 am until the hour of service. Pastors Mary Bullis and Dot Saunders-Perez will concelebrate the services.