Otis Worley Pruett Jr. age 68 died peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Sunday July 14 2013. A Memorial Service will be held in his honor at Lohman Funeral Home Ormond Saturday July 20 2013 at 3:00 pm. Family will begin greeting friends at 2:30pm.
He was born the son of Otis W. Pruett Sr. and Virginia Foster Pruett in Auburn Alabama on March 13th 1945. In 1950 the Pruett family relocated to Ormond Beach where "Worley" attended Osceola Elementary School. He was a graduate of Seabreeze High School class of 1963. He then went on to attend DBCC now Daytona State College where he was a member of Delta Beta Pi Fraternity.
On May 2 1968 he enlisted in the Navy and did 2 tours of duty in Vietnam. Worley received the National Defense Service Medal Vietnam Service Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. His last service assignment was aboard the USS Arnold J. Isbell. Having determined that a naval career as an enlisted man was not to his liking he received an Honorable Discharge on February 1 1971 and promptly enlisted in the Naval Reserves. He then returned with family to Ormond Beach where he adopted a renewed and focused interest in his education. Worley graduated from DBCC in 1972 and the University of Central Florida in 1974 and upon completing his education accepted a position with Vacuum WellPoint in Goldsboro N.C. where he was charged with opening up a new territory for the company's expansion. Accordingly Worley and his growing family moved to Goldsboro where they remained until 1978 when at the behest of his father Otis Sr. Worley returned to Ormond Beach and he joined his Dad in the underground utility business Pruett and Associates. The company work load expanded and Pruett and Associates enjoyed a long working relationship with Martin Paving Ranger Construction and P & S Paving. He held a state utility license and a state fire license.
Worley was a member of Oceanside Country Club and a 30 year member and immediate Past President of Ormond Beach Rotary West. He served two 4 year terms on the Board of Directors of Camp Winona and 7 years on the Volusia County Beach Advisory Board. He began collecting antique fishing lures when he stumbled upon a tackle box at an estate side and over a 10 year period he had amassed a collection that is considered one of the finest of its kind in the United States. He became a member of the FATC as well as the NFLCC and enjoyed showing his collection at regional and national shows. In addition Worley loved collecting old photographs of Ormond and Daytona Beach.
Worley Pruett loved the water and boating in general so over the many years he his wife Julie their 3 children assorted family and friends spent innumerable vacations in the Florida Keys and weekends at Disappearing Island. He had a particular affinity for Key West and the Abaco Islands.
Worley retired in 2005 and at his retirement party a dear friend presented him with a tennis racquet and he began to take up the tennis he had not played since youth. He thrived on the courts and in 2011 the Oceanside Men's 2.5 group went on to win the USTA District Title Sectional and State titles. That year they competed for the National Title in Palm Springs California. Oceanside didn't win Nationals but the participating men formed a strong bond and Worley fondly referred to them as "my guys."
He will be remembered by those whose lives he touched for his work ethic integrity kindness to others and his captivating smile. Worley was predeceased by his wife of 46 years the former Julie Ann Tillitson. Left to cherish his memory are their three children Otis W. Pruett III (Pete) Heather Marie Pruett and Eric James Pruett two grandchildren William F. Greaves and baby Marley Jade Pruett.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to YMCA Camp Winona 898 Camp Winona Rd. Deleon Springs FL 32120 or the Steve Gleason Foundation for ALS Research. Arrangements are under the careful direction of Lohman Funeral Home Ormond. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.lohmanfuneralhomes.com.