Jack Pritchett

Jack Pritchett, 97, of Albertville passed away on Thursday April 9th, 2020 in Boaz.  Marshall Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  The family will hold a private graveside service at Marshall Memory Gardens.

Jack was born in Birmingham, Ala. but was raised and lived most of his life in Guntersville and Albertville, Ala.

Raised in the farming community of Diamond, Jack was the youngest of eight children. In a time prior to Guntersville Lake, Jack learned quickly that spending a long day behind a plow and mule was not the kind of work he wanted for the rest of his life.

While attending Marshall County High School in Guntersville, Jack worked summer jobs to help pay tuition for himself and his siblings. One job included building the old football field; a field he would later make the first touchdown on by recovering a fumble in the endzone. Another Guntersville first for Jack landed him as the first patient in the old hospital on Ringold Street as a result of a football injury.

WWII called him during his senior year of high school. He left Marshall county for the 737th Tank Battalion and a trip across Central Europe. During that time, he met and made life-long friends among his fellow soldiers. Many would gather for their annual 737th tank reunion. Over the years he attended most of these gatherings, even hosting the 2018 reunion in Huntsville.

After returning from the war, Jack married Mavorine Bernice Blair in 1947. Together, they raised two boys and one girl. Mavorine left a career at NASA to become a full-time stay at home mother. Jack would frequently express his appreciation for her sacrifice and the hard work she did at home.

Jack worked in the electrical engineering department of NASA for 32 years. During the 1960’s, race-to-the-moon, he had a key role in building the electrical components of the forward skirt on the Saturn V rocket.

Jack retired in 1977 and enjoyed every day after that, many times saying he never experienced another stress headache. He and Mavorine traveled and visited children and grandchildren frequently.  Jack spent most days being at home enjoying routine chores in the house, working on his tractors, tending the cows, building projects and of course piddling in his shop. Jack was known for his ability to build or repair almost anything mechanical.

Jack and Mavorine were long-time members of Albertville First Baptist Church. Jack attended the Keystone Sunday School class and served many years as the departmental secretary for the Adult 5 Department. Jack’s friends from church were often seen visiting him at his room in Branchwater Village Assisted Living.

After Mavorine passed away in 2008, Jack became more involved with the VFW, Guntersville Historical Society, Retired Federal Workers Group, Marshall Co. Democratic Party, as well as Veterans’, and Memorial Day events.

Jack Pritchett has been described in many loving ways by many people. Two of his nephews may have said it best: “he was more than my uncle he was my friend, such an amazing and humble man” and “I’ll always remember him as both down to earth and larger than life.”

Jack is survived by his son David Pritchett (Theresa), daughter Dawn Gilliland (Tim), daughter-in-law Glenda Pritchett, grandchildren Jonathan Pritchett (Lindsey), Jordan Brantley (Chad), Stone Pritchett (Elizabeth), Hannah Gilliland (Joseph, fiancé), Austin Gilliland, great-grandsons Maverick and Charlie Pritchett and Beckett Brantley, numerous nieces and nephews and countless extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, his wife, Mavorine Blair Pritchett, and son, Danny Jack Pritchett.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations: The National WWII Museum in New Orleans or Albertville First Baptist Church

A celebration of his life will be held for his family and friends at a time and place to be announced.