Obituary for A.C. Pratt

A. C. Pratt of Blackwell, Oklahoma, died Wednesday, July 8, 2015, in Clovis, New Mexico, at the age of 88 years.

A. C. Pratt was born on February 4, 1927, in Portales, New Mexico, to James Vinson and Retta (Johnson) Pratt. He grew up in Southeastern New Mexico attending Roosevelt County Rural Schools. After his eighth grade year, he was forced to quit school to help support his family. He joined the United States Navy serving for four years before joining the United States Army where he also served for four years. While in the Army he married Nellie G. Peck on July 30, 1950, at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, and they settled in Virginia where he was stationed. Following his honorable discharge he began working in the shipyards in Newport News, Virginia. In 1951 they moved to Blackwell where he began a thirty year career with the Acme Foundry working with cast moldings. He also worked several different times as manager of the I.O.O.F. Cemetery, later Blackwell Cemetery. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Blackwell. He also held membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Odd Fellows Lodge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking, but his greatest joy came from his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren, Steven, Mitchell, Trent, Kleigh and Allee who he spent hours mentoring and helping raise.

He is survived by his wife, Nellie Pratt of Blackwell; a son, Verlin Pratt of Blackwell; a daughter, Anna Beard of Blackwell; a sister, Florene Finley of San Antonio, Texas; two brothers, Ernest Pratt of South Dakota and Curtis Pratt of Cleveland, Tennessee; nine grandchildren, Carmetti Klein and husband Kirk of Gorman, Kansas, Sandra Pratt of El Dorado, Kansas, Penny Pratt of Wichita, Kansas, Arlene Pratt of Sparks, Nevada, Jirrel Pratt and wife Melanie of Derby, Kansas, Amanda Hoggard and husband James of El Reno, Oklahoma, Christy (Beard) Johnston and husband Matt of Nardin, Oklahoma, Kelly (Beard) McLain and husband Nate of Huffman, Texas, and Anna Nash Kelly and husband Bobby of Blackwell; twenty-five great grandchildren; and eight great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Elmer and Emery Pratt and Lawrence Mathison; a sister, Inza Mae; and a granddaughter, LaVonda Nash.

Services are scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 14th in the First Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Herb Berkley and Rev. Bill Kalfas officiating. Burial will follow in the Blackwell Cemetery with military rites performed by the United States Army.

Casketbearers will be Nate McLain, Matt Johnston, Bobby Kelly, Steven Johnston, Trent Johnston and Mitchell McLain. Serving as honorary casketbearers will be Bill Wente, Tom Prather, Dayle McGaha, Leon Evans, Jack Clinkingbeard, Ken Levings, Ron Wolf and Bill Kalfas.

A memorial has been established in his honor with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.