To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 4/27/14 • Approved: 4/30/14 • Last Updated: 5/3/14 • R996906-G0-S3
March 24, 1923 - March 17, 2014
*Obituary
Jackson Funeral Home - Newport
Mr. Bill Pratt of Newport, Arkansas departed this life on Monday, March 17, 2014, at his home, at the age of 90. He was born March 24, 1923, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the oldest child of William Ray Pratt, Sr. and Ina Marion (Brewer) Pratt.
Mr. Pratt grew up in Newport and graduated from Newport High School in 1941. He served in the United States Army for 3 ½ years during World War II in the Southwest Pacific working on military communication. Mr. Pratt attended Hendrix College, University of Hawaii, and the University of Arkansas, where he met his wife, Miss Sue Ward. The couple was married at Prescott on February 28, 1947. They made their home in Newport, where over the last 67 years, they have been an integral part of the community and church, raised two daughters, and enjoyed grandchildren and great-grandchildren and a host of friends.
Mr. Pratt was an entrepreneur. Over the years he has been involved in farming, retail, motels, insurance, real estate, and ownership of the GPW Nursing Home at Newport. Mr. Pratt was also an accomplished commodity broker, livestock auctioneer and cotton ginner. In 1952, he and his brother, Dick, formed Pratt Brothers, a partnership working together in their interests in farming, retail stores, motel, and various trades and promotions.
Mr. Pratt was active in the community, and over the years has served as President of Farm Bureau, Committeeman on the Soil Conservation and ASCS, and Vice-President of the State Real Estate Association. Mr. Pratt was a member of the Rotary Club and the Newport Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a past Commander of Collier-Massey Post 4683 V.F.W. and the Neil-Griffin American Legion Post #47, and served in district positions of the V.F.W. and American Legion.
Mr. Pratt was a devoted member of the First United Methodist Church of Newport, serving on numerous committees and as Trustee throughout the years.
He enjoyed the outdoors, especially fishing and gardening. Mr. Pratt was always ready to debate almost any topic and would gladly allow his opponent to pick their side. He enjoyed traveling. He was a faithful friend and enjoyed time spent with his friends. His greatest love was his family and greatest enjoyment was time spent with them.
Mr. Pratt was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Lee “Dick” Pratt, sister, Jane M. Pratt, and son-in-law, Charles “Scooter” Coe.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Sue (Ward) Pratt of the home, two daughters, Jan Pratt Coe of Newport, and Lynn Pratt Gilliam of Indio, California, three grandchildren, Christi Sink, Capron Meyers, and John “Bubba” Sink and wife, Alison; and two great-grandchildren, Wesley Sink and Taryn “Tootsie” Sink, and a host of other family and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home, Wednesday, March 19, 2014, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Funeral services are 2:00 p.m. Thursday, March 20, 2014, at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Brad Elrod and Rev. Charles Sigman officiating. Interment will follow in Watson Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Rick Pratt, Jon Pratt, Bob McCollon, Marvin Hare, Larry Williams, and Richard Carraway. Honorary pallbearers are Marvin Thaxton, Bobby Newell, Ed Scoggins, John Wright, John Conner, Sr., Ralph McDonald, Trey Hare, Harold Norman, and Linn Garner.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 489, Newport, AR 72112 or the Jane M. Pratt Memorial Scholarship at A.S.U. Newport, 7648, Victory Blvd. Newport, AR 72112.
Contributed on 4/27/14 by ashaw444
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 996906