Irene Ruth Pruitt, 96, a retiree of the Southern Pacific Railroad, passed away Sept. 11, 2019. She was living in a care facility in Centralia, Wash.
Irene was born Jan. 30, 1923, in Chicago Ill., to Harry and Clara Casey. She eventually followed her parents to California in the early 1940s, where she started her long career with the Southern Pacific Railroad.
Irene raised three children, Joan, Lou Junior and Darlene in the Reading/Red Bluff area, but she eventually ended up in the Dunsmuir area, working as a crew dispatcher for the railroad. After her retirement, Irene relocated to Centralia to live closer to her youngest daughter, Darlene and grandchildren, Valerie and Paulino Santa Maria and Tonya and Pat Mackey.
Irene is survived by her children, Joan and Brian Gay, Lou and Margi Pruitt and daughter, Darlene Pratt. She also had eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Irene loved living in the Dunsmuir/Mt. Shasta area. She will be buried alongside her mother, Clara Casey whom passed away in 1984.
Her family will be holding a simple funeral at her grave site in Mount Shasta at 2 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. All who knew and loved her are invited. There will not be a reception afterwards.
