Obituary of Florence Marie Pratt

Florence Marie Pratt   March 23, 1938 - October 3, 2022

 

Florence Marie Pratt passed of natural causes October 3, 2022. She was 84. An Oregon Duck Tailgate party was held in her honor on November 3, 2022 at her daughter’s home.

Marie was born March 23, 1938 to Haskell and Bertha (Wright) Stephens in Muskogee, Oklahoma.

Marie was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry E. Pratt, Jr., her parents; sisters, Norma “Poodle” (Stephens) Sanders, Frances (Stephens) Capps; brother, Haskell “Boy” W. Stephens, and grandson Gage Evan.

She is survived by a daughter, Ginann M. (Pratt) Mott (Michael) of Lake Oswego, Oregon; two sons, Jerry D. Pratt of Eugene, Oregon and Stephen L. Pratt of Muskogee, Oklahoma.  Marie is also survived by sisters, Patricia (Stephens) Parks (Virgil) of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Linda (Stephens) Ford of Tulsa, Oklahoma; brother, Billy Ray Stephens (Amy) of Muskogee and (7) grandchildren, (10) great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. 

Marie was happy and proud to talk about her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed being with them at University of Oregon Duck games, family holidays (we will miss her tradition of giving matching shirts and sweaters at Christmas), receiving homemade notes and pictures, and in her last few years, root beer floats, FaceTime, piano recitals and family window visits during Covid-19 lockdown at her Farmington Square Tualatin Community. 

Marie and Jerry were married July 17, 1954 in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Early in their marriage, they moved to California. With Jerry in sales, there were many moves in California, Washington State, and Grants Pass, Oregon. They settled in Eugene, Oregon in 1978.

Marie started her working years as a teenager and always had a job, even when her children were young. She had an incredible work ethic. She could sell you anything. Marie retired after 25 years from the Eugene Valley River JC Penny shoe department. She enjoyed bowling, camping, and the Oregon coast. She was a gardener, a great cook, played Pinochle with friends, and loved a good garage sale, going to one or having her own. She was an avid golfer, playing in three leagues. 

We came to appreciate her signature sayings of “Well…” “Is that the red?” and her reminders of “See your white light” and to never utter the words “I’m bored.”

Marie’s heart was in the philanthropy work of her fraternal organizations; The Independent Order of Foresters and their annual Pancake Breakfasts and Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner fundraisers, Fraternal Order of Eagles Eugene Auxiliary #3597, 50-year member in The Order of the Eastern Star Meridian Chapter 179, Zuleima Temple #13 Daughters of the Nile, and Order of Amaranth Willamette Court #2.  She enjoyed the fellowship of delivering the holiday Poinsettia to home bound members.

Most of all, she loved her University of Oregon Athletics and being a Duck. A devout fan, and a member of Daisy Ducks, she looked her best in Green and Yellow!  Marie made lifelong friends through her involvement with the Daisy's. She enjoyed every aspect of supporting the athletes, whether it was serving meals at the Jaqua Center, offering words of encouragement or giving a big hug to the student athletes after games. You couldn’t miss her green hair and Duck bling at Daisy Duck events, bus rides to away Duck football games or tailgating at home games.  Marie cherished the Daisy ladies she sat with at the men’s and women’s basketball, baseball, and volleyball games.  For years, she was known as the “Cookie Lady” to the baseball team, making cookies and filling road trip bags for away baseball games.

Marie felt she had the best group of friends and neighbors in Eugene. She was sad to leave Eugene and missed her friends dearly. Health issues and Covid-19 forced her move to Farmington Square Assisted Living in Tualatin, Oregon.

Marie’s caregivers at Farmington Square and Signature Hospice were the BEST a family could have. They helped make Marie’s path home a smooth one. 

Marie will make her final road trip home to Muskogee, Oklahoma. There she will be interned, with her husband, Jerry (who passed August 22^nd, 2004) at Greenhill Cemetery 11:00 am Saturday, March 18, 2023, followed by lunch at New Hope Baptist Church, 1501 N 43^rd, Muskogee 1:00 pm.

Donations of remembrance in Marie Pratt’s name can be made to Daisy Ducks in Memory of Marie Pratt, P.O. Box 21513, Eugene, OR 97402; Shriners Hospitals for Children (LovetotheRescue.org.); Eugene Mission, www.eugenemission.org. 

 

 

Greenhill Cemetery
Muskogee, Oklahoma
March 18, 2023

 

Florence Marie Pratt ~ March 23, 1938 - October 3, 2022
Jerry E. Pratt, Jr. ~ January 29, 1933 - August 22, 2004

We bring Marie and Jerry home to Muskogee, Oklahoma, “God’s
country,” according to Marie. Here they rest with Marie’s parents,
Haskell and Bertha Stephens; sisters Norma “Poodle” and 
Frances; brother Haskell “Boy”, sister-in-law Carolyn, and grand-
son Gage Evan.  Here is where she wanted to be. Jerry would tell
you he preferred his ashes be scattered over his favorite Oregon
hunting spots. Marie could not bring herself to be party to this, so
she asked we bring him here. Marie and Jerry celebrated their
50th wedding anniversary on July 17, 2004. Jerry passed August 
22, 2004. It’s fitting they are here together.

Marie and Jerry left Muskogee as teenagers. Having a family early
in their marrriage, they worked hard to be the best parents they
could be. They taught themselves life skills and were alwas eager
to share those skills with their children. A piece of their heart was 
always here. They loved their Oklahoma family and missed them
dearly. They are home.