Obituary of James Irvin Prickett, II

James "Jim" Irvin Prickett II, 67, passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 8, 2022, joining his parents, Jim and JoAnn; his son, Daniel; and dogs, Smokey and Gordy, who beat him to the next adventure. While he may have felt differently about this particular race, he was generally a strong advocate of winning and was proud to have spent most of his life as an effective leader who's job was, essentially, "to win." For over three decades, Jim excelled as an executive leader at an information technology corporation where he rapidly climbed the ranks to vice president of program management, later VP of executive capture, and eventually VP of Advanced Solutions, Integrated Capture, and critical networks. He lead strategy and development teams on to win competitive contractual engagements with various intelligence, defense, and governmental organizations including the Air Force Space Command, with project "wins" ranging in size from 20 to 978 million dollar operations. While his professional achievements would eventually grow to be large red woods, the seeds and saplings of his career began their ambitious stretch upward from very humble soil. His earliest operational scope averaged five to ten dollars, and his clientele was not the intelligence or military community, but hungry families who enjoyed pizza and breadsticks in small towns across Oklahoma and Texas where he managed several Pizza Hut locations. With the bulk of his professional success not yet visible on the horizon, Jim's most substantial life "win" would come one night over the aroma of fresh breadsticks where he met a young blonde employee working as a server, Elaine, who he would go on to share the next forty-five plus years of life's roller coaster with. Their early life together would see Jim first manifest his lifelong interest in flying (both literally and figuratively) when he joined the Air Force and served on the flight crew of a Rivet Joint RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. He would later pursue his private pilot's license, and he enjoyed both flying and reading about flying until his last days. His time in the military would coincide with two more of the most important dynamics in his life, near constant travel, and becoming the father of two boys, James and Daniel. Jim raised his family while continuing to build his career and travel, spending the next decade and a half living in five different states across the country after several years spent in Europe (in addition to frequent supplemental trips and briefer stays elsewhere along the way). Travel would be a lifelong companion, one he prized amongst his life experiences and proselytized frequently. Travel would also cap his last few laps around the mortal track. He officially retired in late 2017, and while continuing to enjoy "dabbling in the strategy and business growth areas through consulting," He would spend the vast majority of his "sunset years" driving into literal southwest sunsets, enjoying the "RV life." Jim spent time away from the steering wheel as an aspiring guitarist, enjoying the educational as well as more hilariously absurd corners of youtube and social media, and embarking on his final ambitious project, the meticulous planning and designing of his"dream home" from the ground up.Unfortunately, "Jim's house," remained a few months from completion at the time of his death. We are certain that Jim will be "haunting" HIS house for as long as it exists, albeit with humor and pranks instead of anything fearful or ghastly.He is survived by his loving wife of forty-five years, Elaine; his oldest son, James III; his three younger siblings, Pam, Patty, and Scott; and his trustworthy youtube and travel buddy, Tucker the dog.Visitation, 10:00AM, Thursday, July 7, 2022, The Springs Funeral Services-North, 6575 Oakwood Boulevard, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80923.Funeral Service, 11:00AM, Thursday, July 7, 2022, The Springs Funeral Services-North.Graveside Service, 1:00PM, Thursday, July 7, 2022, Pikes Peak National Cemetery, 10545 Drennan Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80925. Events Visitation Thursday, July 7, 2022 10:00AM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611 Funeral Service Thursday, July 7, 2022 11:00AM The Springs Funeral Services - North 6575 Oakwood Blvd. Colorado Springs, CO 80923 Phone: 719-207-8611 Graveside Thursday, July 7, 2022 1:00PM Pikes Peak National Cemetery 10545 Drennan Road Colorado Springs, CO 80925 Phone: 202-632-8035