Aubrey Joe Pryor

1944 - 2022

AUBREY JOE PRYOR

1944 2022

Aubrey Joe Pryor was born in Odessa, Texas on November 28, 1944, to Thornton and Thelma Pryor. He was the 5th child, only boy, born into the family which included his four older sisters, Arada, Mary Ann, Dorothy, and Glynda. Amazingly, Joe would never be a spoiled child and grew up in a loving Christian environment. He accepted Christ as his Savior as a boy and would stay close to God his entire life. From 1978 until his death, Joe was a faithful member of First Bible Baptist Church in Bakersfield.

Joe would attend Odessa schools first through twelfth grades. He would play tackle football beginning as a 5th grader through his senior year of high school. Joe was a quick and accurate passer as the quarterback and forever loved the game. He was always an outstanding student academically as well as an accomplished athlete. Joe appreciated the fine arts. He was a member of the choir and speech department competing at the state level in both. Joe gave one of the commencement addresses at his 1963 graduation form Odessa High School. Upon graduation, Joe would attend Texas Tech University where we become a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. In 1965 while at Tech, Joe would marry Nelda Boyd. Before Joe's graduation from Tech, Joe and Nelda would welcome their first born, Chris Pryor. Joe graduated from Tech in 1968. Immediately following, he went to work for Haskins & Sells a public accounting firm in Houston, Texas. Two years later, Joe would leave public accounting and would begin a career with different divisions of Tenneco. First Joe was an internal auditor for Tenneco Oil. This job entailed national and international travel. For Joe, it was too much time away from home where now there was also a beautiful daughter, Stacy Pryor. After 3 years, Joe transferred to Tenneco Reality in Houston as an internal auditor and became the ever present Dad supporting his children in their academic and sports endeavors. He was their coach, tutor and prayer warrior. In 1976, Joe would accept a position as Audit Manager for Tenneco West in Bakersfield, California. The next 12 years were wonderful ones filled with Chris and Stacy growing up beautifully, a new church, and all of us learning to love and embrace Bakersfield, which would become our forever home. In the spring of 1988, Tenneco would sell. Now Joe was in search of a job. As always, God is good, and God provides. In October 1988, Bill and Nora Bolthouse hired Joe as their CFO of Bolthouse Farms. The next 17 years would be some of the best years of Joe's interesting careers. The work was challenging and dynamic. Joe thrived on and met the challenges and thanked God for the environment where he worked as well as the people who surrounded him there. Always, Joe appreciated the people for whom he worked and those with whom he worked. Joe retired from Bolthouse Farms in December 2005.

Joe was always an avid golfer. He became a member of Stockdale Country Club in 1982 and played hundreds of rounds there as well as being a fixture on the driving range working on his game. Joe proudly was one of the founding board members of Junior Golf in our community. Joe's gin games every Tuesday at the club were a given. He loved the competitiveness and this time with friends. His once a month ante up games with additional friends was always a welcomed event. The Club was important to him. He would serve on committees and positions on the board including President of the Club. Joe appreciated the tradition and family feel the Club offered. He always cared about the staff.

Joe's greatest contribution in life was his love for his family. Raising his children Chris and Stacy, was an absolute joy for him. He was an example every day to them. He loved them with no boundaries, but always held Chris and Stacy accountable. Six weeks before Joe's 50th birthday he was privileged to become a grandfather. That was a new joy. He would become Poppa to Caitlyn, Cameron, Grace, Caleigh, Aubrie, and William. He was a constant, supportive and loving part of their lives. Believe he left an indelible positive imprint on each of them.

Joe loved God, Family, and his Friends.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and sisters. His survivors include his wife of 57 years, Nelda, son Chris Pryor (Denise), daughter Stacy Pryor Reeves, grandchildren Caitlyn Reeves Phillips (Riley), Cameron Reeves (Brooke), Grace Pryor, Caleigh Reeves, Aubrie Reeves and William Pryor, and many precious nieces and nephews as well as great nieces and nephews.

A very special thanks to our friend and caregiver Dee.

Celebration of life will be held on Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 10:30 am, at Greenlawn Southwest.

www.bakersfield.com/obits