Edward Neal Prichard

Edward Neal Prichard (aka "Eddie" or "Big Ed"), 75, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2025, in Houston, Texas. Memorial services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at The Church at Quail Creek in Amarillo, Texas. Private interment will be in Dreamland Cemetery in Canyon, Texas. He was born on July 1, 1949, to Annie and Loyd Prichard, in Canyon, TX. He graduated from Canyon High School and attended West Texas State University thereafter. In 1972, he married Gloria Cooper in Lubbock, TX, and together they had two boys, Chris and Michael. He started at Beebe Lumber Company in 1974 where he worked throughout his sons' childhood. After the death of his boys' mother in a tragic automobile accident in 1987, Ed took on the mantle of a single parent raising his 8 and 12 year-old sons with the loving help of his mother Annie, his family and a community of friends. While he was of limited financial means, he gave his boys an unending source of love and dedication so that they had as normal of a fun-filled childhood as possible. An avid sports lover, Ed's boys as men can still hear his booming voice cheering them on. They excelled in every sport growing up, academically, and Ed Prichard's son served as Senior Class President of Amarillo High School. He held a firm conviction of raising them in the church and was a weekly mainstay with his sons on the second row at San Jacinto Baptist Church. He instilled in them a confidence that with faith and hard work, there is nothing they can't accomplish, and he demonstrated by example that you always get back up, dust yourself off and keep going no matter how hard life knocks you down. His sons Michael and Chris—a successful Software Project Manager and a Harvard-trained surgeon living with their beautiful families in the Houston area—are the trophy of his life's work. "Big Ed" was a great fan of all things sports, but especially the Pittsburgh Steelers and the WT Buffs. He served as a coach in Kids Inc. before he had children and then for his own sons' football teams. He loved watching his grandkids hit a softball, swish a basket, or win a swim race as much as the Steelers win a Superbowl. He loved to play "42" dominoes with his brothers and checkers with his grandkids. Endowed with the gift of gab, he never met a stranger. Twenty-five years ago, Big Ed suffered a near-fatal car accident which led to a month-long ICU stay, 3 brushes with death and a year-long stay in a rehab hospital. Despite his pain and disappointment, he worked to recover from this, learned to walk again, and lived independently for another 18 years. Getting back up after this setback allowed him to attend his sons' weddings, medical school graduation, the birth of four grandchildren, and travel to watch the Steelers in the Superbowl. In the fourth quarter of his life, Ed suffered a relentless series of severe health challenges primarily due to his worsening mobility, yet he maintained an up-beat, positive outlook and a mindset of gratitude, not bitterness over hardships. In this time, he was able to be around his grandchildren and appreciate the love and care that his two sons were now able to return to him. He is preceded in death by his parents, Annie and Loyd Prichard, as well as his siblings, Weldon Prichard, Jo Ann Vandiver and Dwyane Prichard, and his former wife Gloria Cooper Prichard. He is survived by his son Dr. Christopher Prichard and wife Shalla, of Houston TX, and their children Lily and Hadley; his son Michael Prichard and wife Jackie of Katy, TX, and their children, Jaxen and Jaydee; sister-in-law Ann Prichard, of Amarillo, TX, two nieces and one nephew, one great niece and two great nephews. His family would like to express their heartfelt appreciation to Ed's medical team of elite physicians who cared for him in his final years, including: Dr. Maher Bishara, Dr. Michael Mitschke, Dr. Ronjay Rakkhit, Dr. Cole Thompson, Dr. Minh Tran, and Dr. Kevin Wheeler. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts be made in his honor to the Amarillo Area Foundation Scholarship Program.