Obituary of Walter Herbert Pratt

Funeral Services for Walter Herbert Pratt of Elsberry, MO will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 9, 2015 at the First Christian Church in Elsberry. Rev. Kris Hagemeier, church pastor, and Rev. Tom Schofield of Edwardsville, IL will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Brendan O’Brien, Don O’Brien, Sean O’Brien, Edward O’Brien, Michael O’Brien, Patrick O’Brien, Leon Pritchett and Slade Pritchett. Mr. Pratt’s services are under the direction of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Mr. Pratt, 85, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 7, 2015 at his home near Elsberry. Born March 1, 1930 in Elsberry, he was the son of Elmer and Martha Beaver Pratt. He was a 1948 graduate of Elsberry High School. He served his country during the Korean Conflict in the U.S. Marine Corps on active duty from January 8, 1952 through January 4, 1954, and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves until he was honorably discharged on January 7, 1960. He was united in marriage on November 1, 1952 in Elsberry to Hazel Frances Pritchett. This union was blessed with one daughter, Peggy Annette. A lifelong resident of the Elsberry community, Walter was a farmer. He was a member of the Elsberry First Christian Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Martha Pratt; and one sister, Dorothy Brown. Survivors include his beloved wife of 62 years, Hazel Pratt of Elsberry; and their daughter, Annette Pratt of Elsberry. He also leaves three brothers, Robert “Bob” Pratt and his wife, Pat, of Elsberry, Charles Pratt and his wife, Serena, of Elsberry, and Elmer “Gene” Pratt and his wife, Edith, of Winterville, NC; one sister, Martha Hills and her husband, George, of Kempton, IL; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. Friday, May 8, 2015 at Elsberry First Christian Church. Memorials may be made to the Elsberry First Christian Church or to the J.R. Palmer Family Memorial Library in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.