Edwin “Ed” Shelton Prigmore, April 17, 1925 – March 8, 2016, age 90, passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2016 and is now rejoicing in the arms of his Lord and Savior in Heaven. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016 at noon at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville, Alabama. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the funeral. Burial will be at Trussville City Cemetery. Rev. Bert Cornelius will officiate. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Teddy Layfield, Stephen Layfield, Jason Prigmore, Mason Buchanan, Billy Kennedy, and Brandon Sevedge. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Boots Prigmore, his parents, Edwin Shelton Prigmore and Essie Fagan Prigmore, and his brothers, William Nighbert Prigmore and James Anderson Prigmore. Ed is survived by his wife, Grace Miller, his daughters Linda Marie Prigmore (Larry) Layfield of Pinson, Alabama, Cynthia “Cindy” Anne Prigmore (Chris) Marlowe of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Susan Elaine Prigmore (Jan) Kizziah of Gordo, Alabama, and his sons Edwin Shelton Prigmore III and Capp Lawrence of Boaz, Alabama , and Philip Brian Prigmore and Sharon Keaton of Huber Heights, Ohio. He is also survived by his grandchildren Teddy Layfield, Dianna Layfield (Billy) Kennedy, and Steven (Michelle) Layfield of Pinson, Jennifer Long (Chris) Cowan and Kathryn Long (Ryan) Pierce of Shreveport, Louisiana, Gina Perna (Brandon) Sevedge of Tuscaloosa, Mark (Melissa) Prigmore assigned with U.S. Army, Soule, Korea, Karen Prigmore (Danny) Bundy, Thomas (Rhonda) Prigmore, Michael Prigmore, and Jason (Holle) Prigmore of Georgia, Julie (Tim) O’Connor of Moody, Nicholas Prigmore of Ohio, Dr. Samuel (Carla) Perna III of Birmingham, and Melinda Perna (Jeff) Braswell of Florida. Additional family members include sixteen great-grandchildren, over 20 great-great grandchildren, sisters-in-law Sarah Prigmore and Melva (Tommy) Roberts, and nieces Kay Prigmore and Teresa Prigmore Boody. Also left to cherish his memory are special nieces by marriage Angie Pesterfield and Lisa Schrader and numerous other nieces and nephews by marriage. Ed was born April 17, 1925 in Coalfield, Tennessee. His mother passed away when he was only seven years old, and his father was killed in a coal mining accident when Ed was sixteen years old. Left without parents, Ed married his longtime sweetheart, Boots, and soon enlisted in the Army. He served in WWII as the rifleman for the 717th Tank Battalion, ending up in Germany by the end of the war. Following his discharge after two and one-half years in the Army, he completed his course work and graduated from Sweetwater High School in May 1946. Ed’s professional career included working over 30 years for the U.S. Federal Government. His early years were spent working as a courier for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in Oak Ridge, Tennessee during which time he traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe. He was honored to have been a member of the United States Delegation to the 1955 Geneva Convention on the Peaceful Use of Atomic Energy (the first Atoms for Peace Conference in Switzerland). After the Cold War began, there were reductions in force at AEC. At that time, Ed relocated his family to Alabama and began working for the Social Security Administration. He retired in 1981. Upon retirement, Ed turned his favorite hobby of woodworking into a new career with the establishment of his toy making company, Wood N Things. Ed’s toys were sold at juried art shows throughout the southeast for many years. His wooden trains still remain on display in two Alabama Welcome Centers. Ed was active in his community and served in numerous leadership positions including President of Civitan International in Trussville and President and Charter Member of Toastmasters International in Birmingham. He was a lifelong member and officer in two Masonic Lodges, including the Georgiana Davis Lodge in Trussville. Ed volunteered hundreds of hours after retirement at Medical Center East in Birmingham. He was awarded a Cancer Survivor Life Inspiration Award in 2001. A 34 year survivor of prostate cancer, Ed participated in many, many sessions of Camp Bluebird and volunteered with the prostate cancer support group, Man to Man. Ed was a Deacon Emeritus of First Baptist Church Trussville where he was a member since 1965. He served in many leadership positions in his church and mentored numerous young men. He enjoyed participating in national mission trips in order to help build churches in the U.S. Ed was a Godly man who raised his children in a Christian home. He exemplified the attributes of a Christian man. His love for others, kind nature, generous service, and gentleness endured Ed to all who knew him. His wife Boots died in 2009 and he eventually moved from the family home to an independent living apartment at Somerby in Birmingham. There he met his Gracie – they courted and then married in May 2012. Grace brought much joy, laugher, and loving companionship to Ed during the last four years of his life. He will be remembered for his integrity and kindness. He was a true gentleman who will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Memorials may be made to the Alabama Baptist Children’s Home or to Wounded Warrior Project.

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