Clairus Lee Pritchett
Clairus Lee Pritchett, 82, of Goreville, died at 12:55 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion.
She was born on March 7, 1940, in Makanda. She was the fifth of seven children born to the Rev. William H. Lirely and Beatrice Lucille Jackson Lirely.
On April 20, 1957, she married Bill Pritchett. He survives.
She also is survived by her children, Rodney (his wife Barbara) Pritchett, Brian (his wife Jackie) Pritchett, Cheryl (her husband Tim) Gage and Wade (his wife Annette) Pritchett, all of Goreville; eight grandchildren, Stacy (her husband Jeff) Tharp, Josh Pritchett, Aaron Pritchett, Corey Pritchett, Christopher (his wife Krystal) Gage, Jordan (Olivia Womack) Gage, Brandi (her husband Josiah) Miller and Ashley (her husband Keith) Bennett; 11 great-grandchildren, Connor, Emma, Jack, Gracie, Parker, Hayes, Otto, Knox, Dom, Jasper and Campbell Faye; three sisters, Una Tripp of Lick Creek, Gayle Caraker of Anna and Myra Owen of Centralia; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many dear friends.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Billy Lirely and the Rev. Ivan Lirely; and a sister, Tirzah Tweedy.
She was a graduate of the Goreville High School. She had been employed as a clerk at the Goreville Food Market. Later, she was employed for 27 years by the United States Postal Service. She served her entire working career at the Goreville Post Office, where she was widely known and much loved. Clairus served as the acting postmaster of the Goreville Post Office from September to December 1994.
Mrs. Pritchett was very involved in the community. She was a longtime member and past president of the Goreville Women’s Club. She also was a member of the Red Hat Society and was a 25-plus years volunteer worker and former board member of the Goreville Ministerial Alliance.
She enjoyed music and playing the piano. She enjoyed working all kinds of puzzles, particularly jigsaw puzzles. She also enjoyed watching the birds and butterflies in her lawn and flowers.
Mrs. Pritchett was a member of the Goreville United Methodist Church. More recently, Clairus and Bill had worshipped together at Busby Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, south of Goreville.
A service honoring the life of Clairus Lee Pritchett was conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 5, at Goreville United Methodist Church. Pastor Darren Clark and Pastor Enrico Esguerra officiated.
Burial was in the Cana Cemetery, north of Goreville.
Memorials can be made to Goreville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 288, Goreville, Ill. 62939-0288; Cana Cemetery, c/o Joyce Kelley, 1120 S. Fly Ave., Goreville, Ill. 62939; or to Busby Chapel Freewill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 354, Goreville, Ill. 62939.
To share a memory or to leave an online message of condolence for her family, visit www.baileyfh.com.
Bailey Funeral Home in Vienna was in charge of arrangements.