Jeanne Ann Pritchett

1934 - 2025

Jeanne Ann Pritchett
January 7, 1934 - July 6, 2025
Jeanne Ann Pritchett passed away July 6 in Austin, TX, having spent her final days surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was 91.
Jeanne was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Richard Pritchett; parents Roy and Esther Shellenberger; and siblings Jane, Leona, Betty, and John.
Born Jan. 7, 1934, in Altoona, PA, Jeanne grew up in the neighboring community of Greenwood in a small stone house built by her father. He died when Jeanne was 13 and her mother supported the family as a school "cafeteria lady." After graduating high school, Jeanne enjoyed working for an Altoona bank.
One winter day her brother John arrived home on leave from the Air Force with a friend in tow, Richard (Dick) Pritchett. One year later, Feb. 1, 1957, on an icy Pennsylvania evening, the couple married. The bride wore her best tweed suit.
Dick's military service, university studies, and a job with IBM took the newlyweds from Illinois to Oregon, to Kentucky, where their son, Steven, was born, and finally, Austin, where daughter, Susan, was born. Jeanne worked several years in the McCallum High School Library.
The family faithfully attended Covenant Presbyterian Church where Jeanne often volunteered. Her volunteerism extended to North Austin Medical Center hospital, a food pantry, and Meals on Wheels.
Jeanne demonstrated her love of family in so many ways: attending her children's band concerts, piano recitals, and baseball or basketball games. Her six grandsons remember snacking on homemade cookies kept "fresh" in the freezer; sharing popsicles on the backyard swing; making and decorating cookies; having tea parties; learning to sew; playing Old Maid; and enjoying the slower pace at grandma's house.
Jeanne was a gifted quilter. With her time and attention to detail, she stitched together patchworks of love - gifts of beauty, comfort, and warmth for each of her kids and grandkids.
In 2017 Jeanne and Richard moved to an apartment at Westminster Retirement Community. By 2021 Richard's declining health required he transfer to the health care center. Jeanne - driven by devotion to her husband and the aid of her walker - trekked the long, circuitous route to his bedside from their apartment every day for a year until he passed.
Jeanne is survived by her son Steven Pritchett and his wife Bonnie, daughter Susan Lewis and her husband Bill; her grandchildren Robert Pritchett and wife Maria, Sam Pritchett, Jack Lewis, Carter Lewis, Max Lewis and Calvin Lewis; and two great-grandsons Kuiper and Daniel Pritchett.
Services will be held Saturday Aug. 23rd, 3 p.m., at Covenant Presbyterian Church at 3003 Northland Drive, Austin, TX.