Obituary for Frank Pryor
Frank D. Pryor, 83, of Damascus, AR, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 12, 2021. He was born in Spencerville, OK July 4, 1937 to Alice Beck and George Marshall Pryor. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers-George Pryor and L.C. Pryor, a sister, Dorothy Lestman and one infant son, Gordon Wayne Pryor.
Frank was an adventurer. He loved people and never met a stranger. He was a dreamer and had big plans. He lived in many places while growing up, but his family moved to Fox, Arkansas in his sophomore year. There he met Frieda Rushing, the love of his life. He played any sports he could, but loved playing basketball and baseball, leading to him being asked to coach on an Emergency Teaching Certificate for one year, right after he graduated in 1955. The following year he then started college at Beebe, AR, where he completed two years. In 1959, he married Frieda and they moved to Conway, where he attended Arkansas State Teachers College and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education. They worked during the summer throughout the western States in the timber and the fruit industry to pay for his college. Upon completion of his Bachelor’s Degree, he taught and coached for 3 years in Missouri and 12 years in Arkansas. After teaching for a few years, He moved his family to Johnson City, TN to complete his Master’s Degree at East Tennessee State. He was Superintendent of Alread Public Schools for 2 years and Superintendent of the Van Buren County School Board for many years. He loved his students and developed many friendships with them over the years. In 1971 he left education and opened Pryor Real Estate and Insurance, in Clinton, AR. He owned several small businesses throughout his life. He loved taking his family on vacations while visiting others through the US.
Frank’s most important work was for the Kingdom of the Lord. He loved the Lord, loved sharing and studying God’s Word. He loved people, loved helping them and taught his children to do the same. He didn’t want recognition; he wanted to be a servant of the Lord. He was a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, Youth Director, a Choir director, and a Moderator of the Post Oak Grove Presbytery for many years. Frank loved music and sang High Tenor in many quartets over the years, but he is most remembered for his singing with Frieda. Anytime they went to a church event, they were requested to sing a special.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 61 years, Frieda Rushing Pryor, one daughter Sandra (Stanley) Doggett of Conway, AR, two sons, Russell Pryor of Conway, SC and Kirk (Deborah) Pryor of Clinton, AR; four grandsons- Marshall(Christina) Pryor, Tyler( Ericka) Pryor, Caleb (Rebecca) Pryor and Joshua Pryor; three great- grandchildren- Alex, Nathaniel and Oliver Pryor; one sister-in-law, Rozell Lewis of Morton, IL; two Sisters- Becky VanConette and Sue Fisher, numerous nieces and nephews, plus a host of other family and friends.
The family would like to thank several people for their help during this difficult time: Knovalea Scroggins, the staff at Kindred Hospice, Don Nunley, Friendship Baptist Church in Clinton, AR, the Damacus Fire Department, First Responders and a Special Thanks to Deborah Pryor and Russell Pryor for the extra special medical care of Frank (Dad).
There will be a visitation on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 10:00 am at Friendship Baptist Church, 333 3rd St, Clinton, Ar. A service will follow at 11:00 am. The interment will be at Fox Cemetery, Fox, AR.
All are welcome and due to COVID restrictions, all attendees are required to provide and wear their own masks.
Frank was an adventurer. He loved people and never met a stranger. He was a dreamer and had big plans. He lived in many places while growing up, but his family moved to Fox, Arkansas in his sophomore year. There he met Frieda Rushing, the love of his life. He played any sports he could, but loved playing basketball and baseball, leading to him being asked to coach on an Emergency Teaching Certificate for one year, right after he graduated in 1955. The following year he then started college at Beebe, AR, where he completed two years. In 1959, he married Frieda and they moved to Conway, where he attended Arkansas State Teachers College and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Education. They worked during the summer throughout the western States in the timber and the fruit industry to pay for his college. Upon completion of his Bachelor’s Degree, he taught and coached for 3 years in Missouri and 12 years in Arkansas. After teaching for a few years, He moved his family to Johnson City, TN to complete his Master’s Degree at East Tennessee State. He was Superintendent of Alread Public Schools for 2 years and Superintendent of the Van Buren County School Board for many years. He loved his students and developed many friendships with them over the years. In 1971 he left education and opened Pryor Real Estate and Insurance, in Clinton, AR. He owned several small businesses throughout his life. He loved taking his family on vacations while visiting others through the US.
Frank’s most important work was for the Kingdom of the Lord. He loved the Lord, loved sharing and studying God’s Word. He loved people, loved helping them and taught his children to do the same. He didn’t want recognition; he wanted to be a servant of the Lord. He was a Deacon, a Sunday School teacher, Youth Director, a Choir director, and a Moderator of the Post Oak Grove Presbytery for many years. Frank loved music and sang High Tenor in many quartets over the years, but he is most remembered for his singing with Frieda. Anytime they went to a church event, they were requested to sing a special.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 61 years, Frieda Rushing Pryor, one daughter Sandra (Stanley) Doggett of Conway, AR, two sons, Russell Pryor of Conway, SC and Kirk (Deborah) Pryor of Clinton, AR; four grandsons- Marshall(Christina) Pryor, Tyler( Ericka) Pryor, Caleb (Rebecca) Pryor and Joshua Pryor; three great- grandchildren- Alex, Nathaniel and Oliver Pryor; one sister-in-law, Rozell Lewis of Morton, IL; two Sisters- Becky VanConette and Sue Fisher, numerous nieces and nephews, plus a host of other family and friends.
The family would like to thank several people for their help during this difficult time: Knovalea Scroggins, the staff at Kindred Hospice, Don Nunley, Friendship Baptist Church in Clinton, AR, the Damacus Fire Department, First Responders and a Special Thanks to Deborah Pryor and Russell Pryor for the extra special medical care of Frank (Dad).
There will be a visitation on Monday, March 15, 2021 at 10:00 am at Friendship Baptist Church, 333 3rd St, Clinton, Ar. A service will follow at 11:00 am. The interment will be at Fox Cemetery, Fox, AR.
All are welcome and due to COVID restrictions, all attendees are required to provide and wear their own masks.