Obituary of William Franklin Pratt

MARION, Va. William Franklin Pratt Born in a sawmill camp in Smyth County on October 18, 1928, Bill Frank Pratt was the oldest of five children of Frank and Blanche Buchanan Pratt. He passed away peacefully on December 26th at home with his wife of 66 years by his side, just as he wanted. He called her “sweetheart” and liked to tell the story of when they first met as small children and she refused to let him play with her toys. Over his lifetime he built two shops, countless farm sheds, a stone spring house, corn cribs, and thousands of wheels for mining cars. He installed their first bathroom, built furniture, and knew how to whittle, yodel, whistle, and play the saw. He was a welder, machinist, woodworker, and farmer. Mr. Pratt knew how to repair farm equipment, replace ax handles, paint cars, build fence, and repair broken hearts. He could heal an earache with cigarette smoke. He was an elder in the Cove Presbyterian Church and more recently at Nick’s Creek Presbyterian Church where, until recently, he arrived early to unlock the gate, take up collection and sing in the choir. He had a beautiful bass voice. Mr. Pratt attended church, but worshipped in the woods. He read the seasons and the weather the way a prophet reads the scripture. He held birds and all woodland critters sacred, and feeding them was a ritual. He was a farm manager and bookkeeper for Elk Garden Farm, at the time the largest beef cattle operation east of the Mississippi. He also worked for the Virginia Highway Department, Southwestern State Hospital, had a mining equipment business and raised some beautiful Burley tobacco. He was a member of the Lebanon Masonic Lodge No. 251. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Pratt. Bill Frank is survived by his wife, Peggy Pratt; daughter, Carole Pratt and husband, Rick Mansell; daughter, Macy Pratt; two grandchildren, Megan Morris and husband, Chris, and Matt Mansell and wife, Sarah; great-granddaughter, Harper Morris, who brought him much joy; two sisters, Virginia Lamie and Patsy Lamie; brother, Paul Pratt; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 29, 2016, at 1 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel with Dr. John DiYorio and the Reverend Andy Cundiff officiating. Burial will follow in Ridgedale Cemetery, Rich Valley, Va. The family will receive friends Thursday, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is honored to serve the Pratt Family.