Welcome to the memorial page for
James A Pratt
August 21, 1922 ~ December 2, 2017 (age 95) 95 Years OldShare Tribute:
James Arnott Pratt passed away peacefully at Norman Regional Hospital on December 2, 2017 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 95.
Pratt was born on August 21, 1922 in Memphis, TN, to Virgil and Anna Pratt. He grew up in New Orleans, LA, and completed his early schooling there. Pratt enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a signalman on the Robert K. Huntington and the USS Passig in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was an atomic veteran, present at the testing of the atomic bomb in the Bikini Islands. He crossed over the International Dateline at the Equator, qualifying as a Flying Dragon. After serving in the Navy, he graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas. He was married to Billie Lou Kirby Pratt for 47 years, during which time they lived in Arkansas and Texas. Pratt and Billie had two daughters, Luanne and Donna Hope. Pratt was a high school science teacher and high school principal for two years. He served as a professional executive with Boy Scouts of America for ten years. He was a Social Security disability determination examiner for the state of Texas for 17 years. Pratt had been retired for the past thirty-five years. Shortly after retiring, Billie and Pratt moved back to Horatio, Arkansas, where they were active volunteers in the Horatio schools, the Lions Club, and the southwest Arkansas forestry community. He also served as mayor of Horatio, Arkansas. Billie passed away in 1999 and Pratt moved to Norman shortly afterwards. He was an active member of Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church, a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, and an avid weekly volunteer at Veterans Corner.
Pratt is survived by long-time companion and sweetheart Marjorie Cannon of Norman; daughter and son-in-law, Luanne and James Lewis of Fort Worth; daughter and partner, Donna Janssen and Vickie Preston of Austin; two grandsons and their wives, and three great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by wife Billie Lou; companion Maureen Shull; brother Everett Pratt; and sisters Virginia Pratt and Anna Lee Roche’.
A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Pratt’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Veterans Corner P.O. Box 722160, Norman, OK 73170.
Pratt was born on August 21, 1922 in Memphis, TN, to Virgil and Anna Pratt. He grew up in New Orleans, LA, and completed his early schooling there. Pratt enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a signalman on the Robert K. Huntington and the USS Passig in the Pacific Theatre during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He was an atomic veteran, present at the testing of the atomic bomb in the Bikini Islands. He crossed over the International Dateline at the Equator, qualifying as a Flying Dragon. After serving in the Navy, he graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Arkansas. He was married to Billie Lou Kirby Pratt for 47 years, during which time they lived in Arkansas and Texas. Pratt and Billie had two daughters, Luanne and Donna Hope. Pratt was a high school science teacher and high school principal for two years. He served as a professional executive with Boy Scouts of America for ten years. He was a Social Security disability determination examiner for the state of Texas for 17 years. Pratt had been retired for the past thirty-five years. Shortly after retiring, Billie and Pratt moved back to Horatio, Arkansas, where they were active volunteers in the Horatio schools, the Lions Club, and the southwest Arkansas forestry community. He also served as mayor of Horatio, Arkansas. Billie passed away in 1999 and Pratt moved to Norman shortly afterwards. He was an active member of Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church, a member of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Association, and an avid weekly volunteer at Veterans Corner.
Pratt is survived by long-time companion and sweetheart Marjorie Cannon of Norman; daughter and son-in-law, Luanne and James Lewis of Fort Worth; daughter and partner, Donna Janssen and Vickie Preston of Austin; two grandsons and their wives, and three great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by wife Billie Lou; companion Maureen Shull; brother Everett Pratt; and sisters Virginia Pratt and Anna Lee Roche’.
A memorial service will take place on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Goodrich Memorial United Methodist Church. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Pratt’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Veterans Corner P.O. Box 722160, Norman, OK 73170.
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