Former McKenzie Band Director Mr. Charles Pruneau Dies

Updated on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at 12:26 p.m.

McKENZIE — It is with bittersweet sorrow that we said goodbye to a longtime resident and pillar of our community. Mr. Charles Ivan Pruneau died peacefully in his sleep Tuesday, October 22, 2024, with his daughter and family by his side. He is survived by his daughter Michelle (Rick) Doscher, grandsons Stephen (Jennifer) Pressley, Alex (Bryanna) Pressley, great-granddaughter Camille Pressley, and sister Donna L. Pruneau.

Mr. Pruneau was born in St. Louis, MO on February 19, 1939, to Ivan and Leona Pruneau. He graduated from Murray State University in 1961 and married (Donna M.) that summer. He began his teaching career in Missouri and came to McKenzie in 1965 as the high school and middle school band director. Mr. Pruneau was also the Minister of Music for First Baptist Church in McKenzie in the ‘60s and ‘70s. He officially retired from teaching in 2000, but 1998 was his last year as a high school band director. He continued to participate and direct church choirs and lead Bible studies, well into his retirement years. Mr. Pruneau served on the McKenzie City Council from November 2012 until May 2024. After some coaxing, he decided to move to South Carolina and live with his daughter and son-in-law and enjoy being “Paw Paw” 100% of the time. Mr. Pruneau considered himself a lifelong educator. His innate ability to connect and to educate was the result of his patience and passion for encouraging individual growth in all his students. He loved the generational connections he had with many of his students and their families and always considered McKenzie his earthly home.

Funeral services for Mr. Pruneau are Saturday, October 26, 2024, at 1 p.m. at Brummitt-McKenzie Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Saturday, 11 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. 

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It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Mr. Charles Pruneau, former McKenzie Band Director. He nurtured a love of music in countless McKenzie students over his multi-decade career. Later in life, he served on the McKenzie City Council. In May 2024, he resigned from his council position to move to South Carolina to be closer to his daughter, Michelle. 

This is a developing story. More information such as his full obituary and stories from former students will be added later.

If you have stories or photos to add to this tribute to Mr. Pruneau's life, please share them with us by emailing banner@mckenziebanner.com  or texting 731-393-3548.  Thank you.