David “Skinny” Allen Pruitt, age 61, of Brownwood passed away Friday, October 15, 2021.

David was born in Hobbs, New Mexico on April 26, 1960, to Gail Terry Pruitt and Polly Sue (Justice) Pruitt, he and his siblings were placed under the legal guardianship of his step-grandfather and grandmother, William H. “Skinny” Pruitt and Rena Mae (Rhodes) Pruitt shortly before his second birthday. To David and his siblings, this change was a priceless gift. It was there that he developed his love for the outdoors and a grudging respect for work. It was soon after Skinny died in 1988 that David borrowed the appellation “Skinny” royalty-free.

Throughout his life, David was annually on the honor roll at the School of Funny Knocks. He laughed at new jokes, was exasperated when he had to correct a flubbed one and cried when he learned his CD of world-famous flautists contained no flatus. He would have been appalled at discovering he had a serious side and frantically searched for a cure. He proudly wore his Three Stooges tie to funerals.

Upon graduation from Brownwood High School in 1978 he worked in the construction industry, applying the trade he learned partly at BHS but mostly as an enthusiastic laborer for Hallford and Pruitt contractors. After that enthusiasm wore off, he started a brief career with the Santa Fe Railroad and a briefer one in a West Texas oilfield. Fortunately, these experiences gave him enough experience and motivation to hire himself at Skinny’s Automotive in Brownwood. Officially an auto repair business, his shop on North Broadway became known as the local repository for any type of humor, anecdotes, news, fables, half-truths, outright lies, and whatever else that could be tested and approved for easing the burden of the daily routine. It was known he could repair a joke as good as a car. And polishing his skill as a barbeque artisan didn’t deter the crowds, either.

It was during these years that he displayed his real gift as guitarist and lead singer of the local C&W band, TEJAS. Just as a car could never be too old to work on, no venue was too small for David to not want to share this gift.

The large, extended family of friends that formed during these years was needed when he opened his deer processing business. Together, almost everyone pitched in to help and encourage David to successfully jump from a short automotive career to a shorter one processing meat. Recycled jokes were tolerated; routine was not.

After his pride and joy, Jaryn David Pruitt, was born, David continued to practice his trades at his Lake Brownwood home. Working on classic cars, repairing small engines, hunting, cooking, fishing, and singing filled the down time when not watching his stepdaughter, Tresta, teach Jaryn the arts of basketball, soccer, football, and, though she had few skills for it, golf; anything to make her brother happy. As Jaryn’s golfing skills progressed, David’s hope increased that someday, someone could finally teach him how to stay out of the hazards. His pride was boundless as Jaryn’s talent surpassed his wildest dreams and became his biggest fan. As a personal bonus, Jaryn’s tournaments in the Northern Texas PGA Junior Tour and West Texas Junior Golf Association gave David ample opportunity to take his own talent on tour in the guise of a caddy with Jaryn’s clubs as a stage prop. Finally, no hazard or rough patch anywhere in life was too daunting to laugh at.

David’s sudden absence in the lives of his large family may leave an uneasy silence, but that new void can be filled by a humble thankfulness for the years of laughter he freely gave.

He is survived by his son, Jaryn David Pruitt and fiancée, Macie McCollum; grandson, Jaxyn James Pruitt; mother, Polly Renner; sisters, Sue Ann and Julie; brother, Bill; nephew, Patrick; and niece, Claire.

Celebration of Life for David will be held Friday, October 22, 2021, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Blaylock Funeral Home. Private family interment will be held at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood. Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to Hunters for the Hungry.
http://www.h4hungry.org