CANEY — Joan Sue Pruitt, 80, a former Parsons resident, died at 2:40 p.m. Monday, July 2, 2012, at Caney Nursing Center in Caney.

She was born in Shaw the youngest child of Cary Harmon and Susie (Susan) Silver Thomas Pruitt. She graduated from Oak Grove Schoolhouse in Neosho County and then Labette County High School in 1949. She later attended the Springfield Business College in Springfield, Mo.

She worked at the Kansas Claims Service in Parsons for 14 years and had a telephone answering service for four years. She left to work in Topeka as an accountant for the Kansas Arts Commission and then the Department of Kansas Veterans of Foreign Wars headquarters.

She was active in the Topeka Post 1650, VFW. Joan was a devoted daughter, mother, friend and sister but she managed to have many hobbies, including bowling, fly fishing, metal detecting and gardening. Joan was passionate about maintaining the Oak Grove Schoolhouse.

Upon retiring to Bowring, Okla., she volunteered at the Bowring Senior Center and supported Bowring school events. Joan loved to country dance at the VFWs and the Dewey Senior Center.

She is survived by her dance partner and best buddy, J.R. Sturgeon of Caney; her daughter and son, Rebecca and Cliff Godley, and two granddaughters, Morgan and Austin Godley, all of Phoenix; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Her eight brothers and sisters, Elsberry Younger, Ewing Thomas, Mary Louise (Burkett/Dunasky), Lloyd Sanford, Alice Elizabeth (Betty Ivy), Cary Harmon Jr., Dallas Glen and Doris Gale (Journot/Spiteri) have preceded Joan to heaven.

The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home, with burial to follow visitation. Joan will rest beneath the old oak trees at the Oak Grove Cemetery northeast of Parsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Oak Grove School Fund — checks made to "Oak Grove School Fund (Savings Account)." They may be left or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357 or to Great Southern Bank at P.O. Box 877, Parsons, 67357.