PFC Allen Brenton Jaynes

PFC Allen Jaynes

Funeral services with full military honors for PFC Allen Brenton Jaynes, 21, of Murchison are scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday, February 3, 2007 at the First Baptist Church of Athens. He passed away as a result of an improvised explosive device detonated near his vehicle while serving in the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom near Baghdad. Interment will follow in the Tidmore Cemetery in Van Zandt County. In this historical cemetery, Allen will be laid to rest among other soldiers of the Civil War, World War I and World War II. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of the Cooper Funeral Home of Athens, Texas.

Allen Jaynes was born May 28, 1985 in New Memphis, Arkansas. He attended schools in Arkansas until moving to Russellville, Alabama in second grade. In 1998 he moved with his family to Chandler, Texas and relocated to Murchison, Texas in 2004. He was a member of the Brownsboro High School Class of 2005. Allen enlisted in the United States Army on October 24, 2004, and trained in Fort Knox, Kentucky before being stationed in Ft. Carson, Colorado. He was deployed to Iraq on October 9, 2006. He has been awarded the Good Conduct Medal, Purple Heart and the Bronze Star by the United States Army.

Allen enjoyed theater in school; he was an avid "gamer" and aspired to be a video game designer. His latest hobby was snowboarding. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Richard Jaynes in 1989.

Survivors include his mother, Carrissa Pruitt of Murchison; brother, Bryan Pruitt of Gardendale, Alabama; sister, Stephanie Pruitt of Murchison; maternal grandparents, Sue and Ray Charest of Barton, Mississippi and a very special friend, Ashley Raiford of Murchison.

The Cooper Funeral Home visitation hours will be from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday. The family will receive condolences from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

A memorial fund has been established at the First State Bank of Athens, Texas. All donations given beyond necessary expenses will be given to charity.