John Prickett

John Wesley Prickett, age 80, of Bryant, died Friday, Aug. 26, 2011. He was born March 30, 1931 in Bryant. John was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Wesley Prickett and Fay Rowland Prickett of Bryant and his brother Max Prickett. He graduated from Bryant High School in 1949 and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville in 1956. John was an avid baseball player in his youth with the Bryant Rebels and contracted to play professional baseball with Greenville, Miss., in the Cotton States League from 1950 to 1953. He was a U.S. Army Veteran, having served for 12 years. John was secretary of the family owned Prickett Dairy, Inc. in Bryant for many years and a member of Grace Baptist Church in Bryant where he served as the piano player. He was an avid golfer and made many lasting friendships through his love of the game. Survivors: his wife, Sally McKelvey Prickett of Bryant; two sons, John Prickett Jr. and wife Tommie of Alexander and Joel Prickett and wife Melissa of Bryant; grandchildren, Jacob, Clayton and Abigail Prickett of Bryant; step-children, Beth Powell of Dallas, Texas, Jimmy and Buck Powell of North Little Rock; step-grandchildren, Gracie Carroll, Carli Walker, Moxley Powell, Alison Combs and Kelly Reed; step-great-grandchildren, Jacob and Joseph Combs of Springdale; his loving siblings, brother, Freddie Prickett and sister, Linda and husband David Jackson all of Bryant; sister-in-law, Willene Prickett of Benton; two nieces, Dianna and husband Dustin Hamm of Benton and Martha Jackson of Bryant and one nephew David Jackson Jr. of Bryant. Pallbearers: David Nelson, Dustin Hamm, Kenny Jones, Shawn Hardin, Johnny Rich, Jimmy Powell and Buck Powell. Honorary pallbearers: A.M. Sullivan, David Jackson Sr., David Jackson Jr., Don Lequieu, Barth Sherman and Nick Neely. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 29 at Ashby Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30 at Ashby Funeral Home with burial at Pine Crest Memorial Park. Dr. Ken Graham and Rev. Joel Prickett will be officiating. Family comments: special thanks to the doctors and nurses in CCU at Saline Memorial Hospital. Online guest book at www.ashbyfuneralhome.com.