David Pratt

Died 9/14/2019

David Lee Pratt, a husband of fifty-seven years, father of seven children, grandfather of twenty-four, great grandfather of one, and friend to so many, passed from this life into the next on Saturday, September 14, 2019 after a battle with leukemia. He was 80 years old.

David will watch over loved ones he left behind, especially his beloved wife, Shirley Pratt (Larson); his children, Deborah Ann Wilson (and husband Damon); David Erick Pratt (and wife Tamra); Shane Lee Pratt (and wife TeAnn); Shirlene Marie Adams (and husband Joshua Adams); Seth Lynn Pratt (and wife Shantelle); and Devin Jay Pratt (and wife Nadine). David was preceded in death by his first daughter, Lenda Marie Pratt, whom he is now reunited.

David Lee Pratt was born on July 2nd, 1939 in Lewiston, ID to Meryl and Harry Pratt. After graduating from Lewiston High School in 1957, David served a two and a half-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brazil, which would be the first of six missions. Upon returning from Brazil, he captured the heart of Shirley May Larson and in 1962 they were married in the Idaho Falls temple. Before attending the University of Oregon he was drafted into the Army. After his service in the military at Fort Ord, California, he graduated from the U of O in Elementary Education. He also earned a double masters in Special Education and Elementary Education and later gained a degree in Marriage and Family Counseling from Brigham Young University. The Pratts settled in Creswell, Oregon on a five-acre family farm where they raised six children and resided for 42 years. David taught elementary school in the Eugene 4-J school district for thirty-two-years. Upon retirement, he taught English at the University in Jinan, China. Those closest to him know how he frequently paused to capture schooling moments, both inside the classroom and out; he was a master teacher. Davids quirky ways of frugality gave the family many stories to laugh about, such as the time he loaded up his Toyota pick-up truck weekly with expired produce trimmings and bread to feed his family, friends, and farm animals, or his four-year career of dumpster diving in Salt Lake City to commandeer unwanted household items which he gave to anyone who was willing to receive. And of course, he couldnt throw anything awayeven the dead calf in the freezeras it might serve as a science project for his fifth grade class. This man rose before the sun to milk the cow, gather eggs, slop the hogs, and stock the fireplace, then he taught all day, umpired games late into the night, and still had time to pick up ice-cream on his way home if there was a coupon.

David was an avid Oregon Duck and BYU football fan, but an even bigger people fan. Some of his fondest memories came from scouting, white water rafting, hiking the Rogue river, field trips with students, and traveling the globe. The hobby that brought him the greatest joy was family. One of his choicest treasures was listening to his family sing, "You Are My Sunshine", because they were his sunshine. Whenever family gathered, he seemed to sit back and observe with a contented smile as if his cup was full. His family tree roots and branches sprouted as he researched thousands of ancestral names. And the borders of family broadened as he adopted many friends into his inner circle. Davids helping hands where always extended as he assisted others along lifes journey through friendship, service and even inviting them to live in his own home. As Charles Dickens would say, "Mankind was [his] business."

Davids love for the ocean led him to Bandon, Oregon where he lived out his last four years. This master teacher who made mankind his business was not afraid to step from this world into the next because of his foreknowledge of a loving Heavenly Father, belief in Jesus Christ our Savior, and the assurance that his own family unit will continue into the next life.

There will be a viewing held in his honor on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at 6:00pm at Amling- Schroeder Funeral Home, located at 125 S.W. 8th Street, Bandon Oregon.

The funeral will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel at 531 S. 10th St, Cottage Gove, Or. on Thursday, September 19, 2019 at 11:00 am with a viewing prior to the service from 10:00-11:00 am. Arrangements in the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel, Cottage Grove, Or,