Mr. Marvin H. Pritchett

Marvin H. Pritchett of Lake Butler, Florida, died August 24, 2013, at the age of 80. He was one of four victims of a tragic shooting by a former employee. Mr. Pritchett was a devoted family man, respected businessman, philanthropist, civic volunteer and a lifelong resident of Union County, Florida. He was born on April 24, 1933 as the only child of Willie F. and Berla Johns Pritchett. After their passing, Mr. Pritchett was raised by his maternal grandmother. He excelled in football at Union County High School, where he graduated in 1951. He also received a scholarship and played football at Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Florida where he graduated in 1952.
Mr. Pritchett enlisted in the Army in 1953 and served overseas during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955. After his return from the war, he purchased a local timber producer and began to build a business. While overseeing this company, he enrolled at the University of Florida and earned a BSBA (Business Administration) degree in 1959. During this time, Pritchett Timber continued to develop and expanded into the timber hauling business. In 1973, Mr. Pritchett founded Pritchett Trucking, Inc., a large transportation company serving the Southeast, where he served as Chief Executive Officer. In 1992, he co-founded Nextran Corporation, a network of Mack and Volvo truck dealerships, where he served as Chairman of the Board. Mr. Pritchett was one of the founders of CNB National Bank, Lake City, Florida, a member of the board of directors of Mercantile Bank and actively involved in many other businesses including farming, cattle, forestry and mining. Mr. Pritchett was active in several business and civic organizations, serving as Chairman of the Board of the County Commissioners, Union County, the Union County School Board and a long time board member at Florida Gateway College (Lake City Community College). He was a past president of the Florida Forestry Association, served with the Bradford - Union County Cattlemen's Association and a member of the executive committee of the Florida Trucking Association. He was an active member of the Florida Republican Party and a proud Bull Gator supporter of the University of Florida. His volunteer services included funding of many activities at Union County schools and First Christian Church. He was honored in 1994 by the State Department of Education with the Business Recognition Award for North Florida and was inducted into the Union County High School Hall of Fame.
Marvin was a devoted husband, wonderful father and beloved grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Margaret; his sons and their wives, Jon and Kelly Pritchett and Phillip and Emily Pritchett; his daughter Robin Pritchett Wilson; stepchildren, Carl Drake, Greg Drake (Rena) and Denise Willis (Mike); grandchildren, Nicole, Erika, Loren, Kendyl, Preston, Alexandra, Christina, Elizabeth, Catherine, Austin, Ashley, Sydney and Luke; great grandchildren, Bailey, Graysen and by hundreds of devoted employees and friends. The family will receive friends at First Christian Church of Lake Butler on Thursday August 29th from 5:30 to 8:30 PM. A celebration of his life will be held at the First Christian Church on Friday, August 30, 2013 at 2:00 PM with Brother Arthur O. Peterson officiating. Burial will follow at Dekle Cemetery in Lake Butler. Arrangements are the under the care of Archer Funeral Home located at 55 North Lake Ave., Lake Butler, Fl. 32054-1733. (Email: [email protected]) The Pritchett family has created a victims' fund in honor and support of the David Griffis family, Rolando Gonzalez-Delgado Family and the Lewis Mabrey family. In lieu of flowers you may donate to this fund at TD Bank, Lake Butler, Fl. Make all checks to the Victims Fund.