Belva Jean Pratt

Jean Pratt

Jean Pratt died December 8, 2015 at Putnam County Care Center where she was under care for Alzheimer’s dementia.

Belva Jean Wickless was born August 29, 1923 in Sharpsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Oscar Anthony and Grace Marie Warner Wickless. Soon after her birth the family moved to Weldon Iowa where Jean was raised, graduating from Weldon High School in 1940.She attended Simpson College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944. Jean taught high school speech and language arts in Knoxville and Fairfield Iowa. In Fairfield she met her husband Stewart Albert Pratt. The couple was married December 22, 1946. They began married life in Omaha, Nebraska, where Stewart attended dental school at Creighton University. Upon his graduation the couple came to Stewart’s home town, Unionville, Missouri. There Jean was a homemaker, raising their daughter and son and supporting them in their school, church, 4-H, and scouting activities. She served on the American Field Service committee that organized student exchanges in the 1960’s and 70’s. She and Stewart hosted an AFS student, Jose’ Pena, as well as a Rotary exchange student, Sipke Gielink.

Jean was active in community affairs serving on the Community Betterment Committee, Garden Club, Putnam County Library Board, and the Extension Council. She was a 64 year member of Missouri Chapter A of the PEO Sisterhood. Jean was a devoted member of Unionville United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as her brother James A. Wickless and wife Alta, sister-in-law Sara Reed and husband Joseph, brother-in-law Clarence Pratt and wife Jane, brother-in law Turner Pratt and wife Jean, a nephew Stewart Reed, and a niece Susan Bowers.

She is survived by a daughter Sara Ellen Green and husband Theodore of Rocheport, Mo., a son Joel Wickless Pratt and Jane Blackburn of Unionville. Also surviving are three nephews and nieces, James W. Wickless, Jeanne Niederhaus, Joan Lindsay, Madeline Pratt, James T. Pratt, R. Mitchell Pratt, and their families.

A memorial service of Jean Pratt will be a the Unionville United Methodist Church in Unionville, MO, at 1:00 PM on Saturday, December 12, 2015. A visitation will follow the service from 2:00 - 3:00 PM at the church.

Memorials are suggested to Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (curealz.org), Unionville Methodist Church, and Unionville Cemetery Association and may be entrusted with Playle and Jones Family Funeral Home, 709 S. 27th St., Unionville, MO 63565.