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Elroy Jefferson "Bud" Pratt
passed away Friday, December 22, 2000 in a Houston hospital at the age
of 78. Born December 18, 1922 to Fred Cameron and Rhea Pratt, Bud
spent his boyhood in Joplin, Missouri. After graduation from high
school, he enrolled in Texas A&M University as a proud member of
the Class of '44. As World War II progressed, Bud's entire class was
drafted into active duty. Before leaving for active duty, Bud married
his high school sweetheart, Virginia Lankford Pratt. Bud proudly
served his country in Burma as a member of the company responsible for
the construction of the Burma Road. When the War ended, Bud and Ginny
moved to College Station where Bud completed his engineering degree
from Texas A&M. Following graduation, Bud and his young family
moved to Baytown, Texas where they lived for 24 years. Bud worked for
Humble Oil and Refining Company and, along with a number of other
engineers designed much of the equipment that enabled The Humble/Exxon
Refinery to grow into a worldwide refining company. During his
employment with Humble/Exxon, Bud not only worked at the Baytown
refinery, but also at the Exxon plant in Rotterdam, The Netherlands
training Dutch engineers, and the Exxon refinery in Benecia,
California. In 1986 Bud retired from Exxon after 40 years of faithful
service.
He was a quiet, dignified man whose life fully embodied the term
"gentleman." Like many men of his generation, Bud went about
life doing what needed to be done without discussion or complaint. Bud
enjoyed traveling and playing bridge. He was an avid reader and
studied the Bible in depth. He was an active member of the First
Presbyterian Church in Baytown, where he served as a deacon and an
elder; he also was a member of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church in
Walnut Creek, California, and Grace Presbyterian Church in Houston,
Texas.
Bud was preceded in death by his father, Fred Cameron Pratt, his
mother, Rhea Pratt, and his wife of 56 years, Virginia Lee Pratt. He
is survived by his son, James Pratt, and wife, Patricia of Missouri
City, Texas; daughter, Judi Jacquin, and husband, Jules, of Clifton
Park, New York; grandson, Greg Pratt, and his wife Shalise, of Katy,
Texas; granddaughter, Stephanie Pratt of College Station, Texas and
her fiancˇ, David Alexander of Cleburne, Texas; grandson, Jay Jacquin,
of Atlanta, Georgia; great-granddaughters, Mollie Rhea and Mackenzie
Alise Pratt, of Katy, Texas; and sister, Ester Kitty McDonald, of
Kansas City, Missouri.
A service honoring Bud's life was held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday,
December 29, 2000 at First United Methodist Church of Missouri City,
(1220 FM 1092 in Missouri City) with Rev. Dr. Richard Burnham
officiating. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on
Wednesday, January 3, 2001 at San Jacinto Memorial Park, 14659 I-10
East, Houston, TX 77015. For those who desire, memorial contributions
may be made to The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., 1250
Hylan Boulevard, Suite 4B, Staten Island, NY 10305.
Funeral arrangements under the direction of The Settegast-Kopf Co.
at Sugar Creek, 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.
(281) 565-5015.
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