Obituary of Robert Elzo Pratt

Funeral Services for Robert Elzo Pratt of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at the Elsberry United Methodist Church.  Rev. Paul Garven, church pastor, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry.  Serving as pallbearers will be Jeff Pratt, Jared Pratt, Joe Welch, Ryan McElfish, Eli Turner and Nicholas Pratt. Honorary pallbearers will be Chris Linke, Logan Pratt and Rylan Pratt.

Mr. Pratt, 89, passed away Saturday morning, July 8, 2017 at his home in Elsberry.  Born January 26, 1928 in Lincoln County, MO, he was the son of Elmer and Martha Beaver Pratt.  He was a 1947 graduate of Elsberry High School. Bob was united in marriage on July 29, 1950 in Foley, MO to Patricia Louise McMillin.  This union was blessed with four children: Bob Alan, Bill, Nancy and Paula.  He served his country in the United States Army from November 9, 1950 until he was honorably discharged on November 8, 1952 as a Corporal.  During his service, Bob taught demolition at Fort Leonard Wood.  Bob was a longtime farmer.  He later worked as a golf course groundskeeper.  He also worked as a driver for Davis Trucking. He was a member of the former IOOF Lodge.  Bob was a 60 year member of Elsberry American Legion Post #226.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer Pratt and Martha Pratt Ogden; one sister, Dorothy Brown; one brother, Walter Pratt; one brother-in-law, Conrad McMillin; and one son-in-law, Allen Riefle.

Survivors include his beloved wife of nearly 67 years, Pat Pratt of Elsberry; their children: Bob Pratt and his companion, Darlene Boechler of Lake Ozark, MO, Bill Pratt and his wife, Suzette, of Elsberry, Nancy McElfish and her husband, Richard, of Riverside, MO and Paula Riefle, of Elsberry; ten grandchildren and twenty-one great-grandchildren.  Bob also leaves two brothers: Charles Clifford Pratt and his wife, Serena, of Elsberry and Elmer Eugene Pratt and his wife, Edith, of Winterville, NC; one sister, Martha Lou Hills and her husband, George, of Cullorn, IL; one brother-in-law, Philip “Mac” Schuchman and his wife, Lynn, of Kansas City, MO; two sisters-in-law, Hazel Pratt of Elsberry and Phyllis Hart and her husband, Wallace, of Center, MO; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry.  Memorials may be made to the Joseph R. Palmer Family Memorial Library (or) the Elsberry United Methodist Church in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.