Just three weeks ago, Bob Prideaux was doing one of his favorite things.
He was going on an afternoon van ride home to Atwood. Bob and his wife
Maxine had lived at Prairie Senior Living Complex in Colby, KS for the
past five years. They liked living there and they and their children
appreciated the caring staff at the facility.
Bob had three places he always requested to go to when he got to come
back home. The request at the top of his list was also the newest
request, "I want to go see momma and say some prayers". That is of
course his dear wife Maxine this was the day before she died a year ago
on November 8, 2020. In 1948 Bob met the love of his life at a
basketball game at Atwood High School. They figured they were a good
match when they learned their birthdays were on the same day, June 9th,
although Bob was a year older than Maxine. They were married on June 26,
1951, at Sacred Heart Church in Atwood KS. Bob always said, for 69
years, he married the "prettiest girl on the North divide". Their
marriage was always a true partnership and they shared a mutual love for
each other. Prior to getting married Bob was baptized and confirmed
into the Catholic faith at St John Nepomucene Church, rural Atwood. Of
this he always said it was the second-best thing he had ever done in his
life, the first was marrying Maxine. Many years later he said he was
sitting in the front row of St John Church, in his 4th degree Knights of
Columbus attire, and he was just overcome with emotion on how a
McDonald farm boy had done so well to have a beautiful wife, children,
grandchildren and faith.
Bob's second request was to go to the home he and Maxine had bought in
1975 and had retired in. They lived there until moving into the nursing
home in 2016. Their son bought it from them and Bob loved coming home to
it. They had other homes throughout the years. Their first home as a
married couple was on the Prideaux farm south of McDonald. Bob was
always so proud of this farm and always remained "a farmer at heart". He
loved to tell stories of farming all his life, running the John Deere D
for his dad, harvesting with his brother-in-law Boyce Warning and
sister Shirley using a thresher, or about the terrible winter of 1948-49
trying to take care of the livestock with his brother-in-law Chuck
Kenning and his sister Dottie.
This farm was the home that he and Maxine brought their first babies
home to. Denise Marie was born September 1, 1952, and Robert Randal
"Randy" was born July 27, 1953. But times and circumstances changed, and
the young family decided to move to Atwood where Bob took a job at
Williams Brothers Supermarket. He would work at the store for the next
25 years. During this time Bob and Maxine finished off their family with
Donna Lee being welcomed November 25, 1958, and Roger Bryan being born
on January 25, 1962. These were busy and happy times for Bob as he and
his wife raised their children. Bob stayed busy after work helping
prepare the new Sacred Heart School for his children to attend. Bob
enjoyed many activities such as bowling, fishing, belonging to the
Knights of Columbus and later joining the St. Pius X fourth degree
Knights of Columbus. And finally taking up the sport of golf which Bob
dearly enjoyed for many years.
More change came when Bob decided to leave the grocery store and take a
new position as maintenance man at the Rawlins County Hospital, a job he
was well suited for as he was certainly a Mr. Fix it and a good
carpenter. In the latter 1970's, Bob (with the counsel of his wife)
purchased the Atwood Retail Liquor store, renaming it Prideaux Liquor
Store. Bob worked hard remodeling and improving the store. He operated
the business very successfully for many years before selling it to his
son and daughter-in-law so he and Maxine could travel a little more and
he could play golf a little more! By the early 1970's Bob earned a new
title as grandpa. Bob had five grandsons he was always so very proud of,
Troy, Ryan, Trevor, Tyrel and Logan. He loved to attend their
activities and cheer them on, especially when they were playing or
coaching football, a game he also enjoyed playing in high school. Bob
also dearly loved and was so proud of his great grandchildren, Dylan,
Madelyn, Matthew, Tucker, Toby, Ellaina and Ellie.
The third place Bob always requested to go to when coming home to Atwood
was to look at a two-story house located on the corner of Seventh and
Blaine streets, “Right there, right there in that northwest upstairs
corner room......that's where ol’ Bobbie was born” he would say. Robert
Bryan Prideaux was born June 9, 1930, to Frederick Bryan and Violet
(Morrison) Prideaux, at the home of his paternal grandparents William
and Louise (Taylor, Prideaux) Meyers. He had two older sisters, Shirley
and Dottie and two younger brothers Jack and Duane. He grew up in a
house located in the north part of McDonald KS. Robert could tell so
many stories about his wonderful childhood years. He attended McDonald
grade school and high school graduating with the class of 1948. There
were six girls and two boys in the class. He would recall running all
around town playing the game "chalk mark" at night with all the town
kids, going to his grandparents Meyers in Atwood and coming back to
McDonald in their model T car and attending the McDonald Church of God
with them. Staying with his Uncle Henry and Aunt Bertha Prideaux and his
cousins in the summers always brought back wonderful memories. Three
weeks ago, Bob looked at that two-story house on the corner where he was
born and said, “I just cannot believe it has been 91 years ago".
Robert Bryan Prideaux passed away Sunday November 21, 2021, at Prairie
Senior Living Complex, Colby, KS, due to chronic kidney failure. His son
Randy, daughter Donna Prideaux and Grandson Ryan Morrell were with him
as he breathed his last just as the musical clock in his room played the
2PM song. Bob was a positive and happy man; he could often be heard
Auctioneering and Yooddling. His wife, children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren were the apple of his eye. We love you and will miss you
dad.
Preceding Robert in death was his loving wife Maxine; his parents; son
in law John Morrell; sister Dottie Kenning and brother-in-law Chuck
Kenning; sister Shirley Warning and husband Boyce; brother Jack and wife
Marquetta; brother-in-law Raymond Sabatka and brother-in-law Raphael
Sabatka.
Surviving him are daughter Denise Morrell; son Randy and wife Melanie;
daughter Donna Prideaux and son Roger; grandsons, Troy (Jessica)
Morrell, Ryan Morrell and special friend Kelly, Trevor Morrell and
special friend Jessica, Tyrel Prideaux and special friend Leslie and
Logan (Emily) Prideaux; great grandchildren, Dylan Morrell, Madelyn
Morrell and Matthew Morrell, Tucker and Toby Prideaux, and Elaina and
Ellie Prideaux; brother Duane (Hazel) Prideaux and sister-in-law Agnes
Sabatka.
Services for Bob will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in
Atwood, KS, with a visitation from 5-7:00 p.m. and vigil at 7:00 p.m.,
Tuesday, November 23, 2021. The Funeral Mass will take place at 10:30
a.m. Wednesday, November 24 followed by interment in Mt. Calvary
Cemetery, Atwood. Memorials are suggested to Hospice Services, Sacred
Heart Church or Jayhawk Theatre and may be sent in care of Baalmann
Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or condolences
visit www.baalmannmortuary.com