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Elgie Revere Pratt completed his journey on earth October 14, 2005. He was
born, March 27, 1921, weighing less than three pounds, to Minetta Pratt in
Ashton, MI. He graduated from Reed City High School and excelled in sports,
while helping on the farm with his grandparents, Squiar and Victoria Pratt.
Elgie was drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers and played outfield with PeeWee
Reese. World War II started, and he was in Detroit until he left with the
Marine Corps and served in Japan. Subsequently he moved to Kalamazoo.
Elgie was
preceeded in death by his wife, Esther (Heilman); mother of children, Larry
and Sharon. Elgie has been married for 38 years to Joyce (Russell), mother of
Marsha and Mike. Elgie retired as supervisor of the Machine Shop, The Upjohn
Company Kalamazoo, MI. Then, he and Joyce owned and operated North Shore (Bar
and Restaurant) in Newaygo, MI. Elgie could "fix anything" and was very
active, an avid hunter and fishermen, loved the out-of-doors, and shot his
deer the last day of season 2004. Elgie loved to provide deer meat to those
families in need of food. He loved to follow the sports successes of his
children and grandchildren. He taught his family (wife, kids and grandkids) to
appreciate hunting and fishing, too.
Surviving
are his wife, Joyce, who lives at their home which he loved on Croton/Hardy
Dam. Elgie loved to look at the lake, fish, take pontoon rides, watch the kids
enjoy the water, and see the dogs swim to retrieve rocks from the water. The
cats, especially Stranger, will miss their friend, Elgie. Also surviving are
his children, Larry Pratt (wife, Cindy), Sharon Ritchie (husband Bob), Marsha
Hughson (husband, Sam) and Mike Pratt. His surviving grandchildren are Stacy
French, Portage (wife, Shawn), Lisa Maloney (Florida), Valerie Maurer
(Portage), Amy Wilson, Holland (husband, Rob), Brian Pratt (Ypsilanti) and
Mike Pratt, Jr. (Newaygo). Elgie's surviving great grandchildren include
Stephen Maloney, Skyler and Alexis French, Hailey and Sierra Maurer, and Ryan
and Nathan Wilson. Elgie's surviving brothers include Dick, Bob, Jim and Jack
McCracken. Elgie's surviving uncles include Alonzo and Alex. Also surviving
are many nieces and nephews in various communites.
His
family and the many friends who knew him, will miss the kind-hearted man
hidden behind the rough, tough man who could do anything. Although there will
not be a memorial service, contributions are being accepted by the American
Cancer Society. Arrangements by McKinley Funeral Home, Newaygo.
McKinley Funeral Homes, Inc.
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