F. Aubrey Pryor

F. Aubrey Pryor, 86, of 2132 Cherry Lane Estates West, died at 6:20 a.m. Monday (May 2, 2011) in Good Samaritan Home.

Aubrey was born Dec. 4, 1924, in Nelsonville, Mo., a son of Lester Thomas and Veta Odessa Steffen Pryor. On Jan. 27, 1945, he married his wife of 66 years, Vivian Alice Buckley, in Quincy. She survives.

As a boy, Aubrey delivered newspapers. He was a 1942 graduate of Keokuk (Iowa) High School. He was employed at the Co-op Dairy Bar while he attended Gem City Business College in 1942 and 1943.

Aubrey served in the U.S. Navy from October 1943 until April 1946, as a storekeeper 1st class.

Aubrey was a bookkeeper, manager and eventually the co-owner of Henry G. Garrelts & Sons. He was also the owner of Garrelt's Wholesale until his retirement in 1983. After the death of his father, Aubrey became the president of Pryor Trucking Inc. until the year 2000.

Aubrey was a member of Central Baptist Church, where he held many leadership roles and sang in the choir. He was also a member of the YMCA male chorus. Aubrey was a member of the Quincy Uptown Rotary for more than 50 years. During this time, he served terms as the executive secretary and as president of the club. He was honored by the club as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He was a past president of the Jaycees and organized many activities.

Aubrey was a founding member of the Joint Industrial Development Commission, which later merged with the Great River Development Foundation to become the Great River Economic Development Foundation (GREDF). He was also a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and was involved in the opening of Quinsippi Island. He was a member of the Herman Lodge No. 39 AF&AM.

Survivors in addition to his wife include two daughters, Penny (David) Rich of Lexington, Mo., and Peggy Pryor of Quincy: two grandchildren, Holly (Jim) Godfrey of Lee's Summit, Mo., and Corey (Bess) Rich of Bolivar, Mo.; four great-grandchildren, Pryor, Will and Maryn Godfrey, and Mac Rich; a sister, Nadine (Bill) Kelly; a brother-in-law, Robert Sorrill; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Aubrey was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, El Dred Sorrill, and a brother, Jerald Pryor.

SERVICES: 10 a.m. Friday in Central Baptist Church, with the Rev. Ivan Greuter conducting. Burial will be in Quincy Memorial Park.

VISITATION: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday in the Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

MEMORIALS: Central Baptist Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

ARRANGEMENTS: Hansen-Spear Funeral Home.

WEBSITE: www.hansenspear.com.

Condolences may be expressed online at www.whig.com.