NEWCASTLE, OKLA.—Charles Pruitt, a former president for the Oklahoma Chapter of the International Certified Floorcovering Installers Association (CFI), passed away in his sleep March 14. He was 70.

A staunch supporter of professional flooring installation as displayed in his skills and knowledge, Pruitt was an advocate of customer service and lived by the Golden Rule of treating others with respect, noted Jim Walker CFI’s CEO. “It is doubtful that few in Oklahoma have not been met with his passion for the trade.”

Pruitt was also a former schoolteacher but loved the art of flooring installation. He had encountered several serious illnesses in the past few years but continued to work. “Charles loved the CFI convention and the opportunity to meet with friends across the nation,” Walker said. “He was always searching for ways to enhance the value of flooring installation and continually shared this with his friends. His wife said that Charles thought everyone should be CFI and every dealer should support CFI.”

Pruitt’s wife, Shirley, said it was in her husband’s nature to help others. “He was a wonderful husband and the leader of our family. Kids would gather whenever he was around and he’d perform magic for them. That’s the type of man he was.”

The couple was to celebrate 50 years of marriage on Sept. l. CFI’s Daris Mulkin said of Pruitt: “Charles was my friend. We were together at the CFI convention and kept in contact by telephone. I will miss him. We had long talks and I found out that he was a teacher, but preferred floor covering installation. He wanted the trade to be better for the younger people entering it. He was a voice for CFI.”

Walker noted, “Charles will be missed by all because he never lost sight of the possibilities that CFI could do great things in the industry. He was one of the most outspoken supporters and did his best to tell everyone the difference a CFI installer can make for the retail community. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.”

His son-in-law, Dee Harrison, expressed his feelings by saying, “Our family is the closest of any I know and that is because of Charles.”

A celebration of Pruitt’s life was held on March 17 at the Southern Ridge Church of Christ here.

Pruitt’s survivors include his wife, Shirley; four children, Tammy Loyd, Staci Harrison, Kyle Pruitt and Darcy Darling, and 10 grandchildren.