GREEN, Myrl

1921 - 1997  (75 years)

• Name	GREEN, Myrl
  Birth	13 Oct 1921
  Gender	Female
  Note	The following text is taken from her 'Memorial Dedication program' June 22, 1997 Meryl Green Pruitt Meryl was born in Edwall, Washington on October 13, 1921. She was the youngest of 9 children born to Arthur Edward and Clara Fern Green, both pioneers who came west with their families in covered wagons. She grew up on a farm milking cows, churning butter, harvesting crops, baking bread, canning fruits and vegetables, and gathering eggs. In her childhood home idleness was a sin. When work was done, one would read a book so their mind was busy. Family unity and closeness were paramount. This life shaped the values of hard work, education and family togetherness that Meryl lived by. Meryl married Robert Thomas Pruitt on April 19, 1941 and had 8 Children. As a young mother she ran a household and raised her children while her husband was in Seminary school. As a Minister's wife, she often preached at one of his churches, eventually serving a church of her own. In an effort to help meet the financial needs of her growing children, Meryl worked as a waitress and restaurant manager. She also started a day care center, and worked as a family Counselor. As her children left home Mcryl became involved in many community service projects. In l 969 Meryl opened a gift shop in Seattle's Pioneer Square with two of her Sisters. Meryl stored many tools, Clothing, and household items of her parents in a large back room of the shop. From her years of work with small Children and her fond memories of her childhood on the farm, she created a tour for children. As a part of the tour she insisted that the children actually use the tools, delighting at the smiles on their faces as she 'shaved' them with her fathers straight edge razor. The hands-on approach to teaching gained popularity and her back room tour became Pioneer Place Museum. The idea to Start an actual working firm was realized in November of l 975 when Pioneer Farm Museum opened in the Ohop Valley on land Bob and Meryl had purchased in 1968. Her hands-on education style reached it's full potential here where children used all five senses to learn about history and milking a cow. Because transportation costs prohibited many schools from Coming to Pioneer farm, Meryl packed up her artifacts, talked a school into picking them up, and presented her first 'PioneerTrails' in school, hands on historical education program. When she saw the farm emptied by 2:00 PM so buses could get back to their schools, she created the Pioneer Living Experience Overnight program so students could enjoy a fuller Pioneer experience. Always a champion of good causes, Meryl did not stop there. Her concern for the environment led to beginning of the salmon hatching program at Pioneer Farm and her involvement in the Nisqually River Council. When she learned about the local history of the Ohop Valley, and realized the whole story could not be told without telling the story of the local NativeAmericans, she worked for the creation of Native American programs that arc an essential part of Pioneer Farm today.
  Name	Myrl GREEN
  Name	Myrl PRUITT
  Reference Number	183
  _UID	C9A892008BA74572B14C84CE0EA4C6FBAE2E
  Death	1 Jun 1997	Eatonville WA   [1]
  Person ID	I184	MARTINPRUITT
  Last Modified	31 Aug 2021

  
  

  Family	PRUITT, Robert Thomas,   b. 30 Mar 1918, Taintor, Mahaska, Iowa d. 15 Mar 1987, Seattle, King, Washington (Age 68 years)
  Marriage	24 Apr 1942
  Children	1. PRUITT, Freeman   d. Yes, date unknown   2. PRUITT, Timothy Joel,   b. 4 Apr 1943   d. Yes, date unknown   3. PRUITT, Marcus Neil,   b. 23 Aug 1944   d. Yes, date unknown   4. PRUITT, Danelle,   b. 1 Sep 1945   d. Yes, date unknown   5. PRUITT, Robert Wesley,   b. 25 Jan 1947   d. Yes, date unknown   6. PRUITT, Stephen Dyke,   b. 14 Jan 1949   d. Yes, date unknown   7. PRUITT, Valery,   b. 25 Apr 1950   d. Yes, date unknown   8. PRUITT, Merrilee,   b. 31 Jan 1955   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F58	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	14 Sep 2021

  
  

• Sources

  [S2] Rememberance and Celebration S.