Gates Michael Pratt

Skip was born in 1945 to Lester and Jo Pratt of Lubbock, Texas. The Pratt family moved to Freeport, Texas, when Skip was six years old and then attended O.A. Fleming Elementary, Freeport Junior High and Brazosport High School. He was an outstanding junior high and high school athlete. After high school in 1964 and during the Vietnam War, he joined and proudly served in the U.S. Navy.

During Skip’s youth in Freeport, among his fondest memories was summer teenage baseball where he and his teammates won a state teenage baseball title. Skip was fond of telling stories of his and his teammates’ accomplishments in that summer. When he was a teenager in Freeport, he first started playing golf and scored a hole in one with rental clubs at the first hole of the original Freeport Municipal Golf Course. That introduction to golf would impact him lifelong with the “golf bug.” Skip was an excellent golfer, even playing professionally for five years in Europe and Japan. Some of his fondest memories were those of playing in tournaments with his dear friend, Wayne Barnhart.

He held several different jobs in his career but what he enjoyed the most was outside sales of construction equipment, mostly in Texas. Skip retired at the age of 65. He enjoyed golfing, motorcycle riding with his wife and friends in support of toy drives and in support of veteran programs. He also enjoyed sharing stories with his brother, David, about their childhood baseball and football games and current sports. Skip was also passionate about issues involving the community.

In 2006 Skip met his wife, Ruby Cardona, of Lake Jackson. Skip and Ruby met through a golf tournament that her employer (Associated Builders and Contractors) was hosting. They fell in love and married in 2007.

Ruby always appreciated that Skip would ask her to join him in a golf game as she had a lot of enthusiasm but she was no pro! Those who knew Skip say that his love for Ruby changed him to a better man. Ruby devotedly cared for Skip, nurtured him, and loved him throughout his battle with diabetes, blindness, and cancer. Because of his illness, she also appreciated when he could attend church with her as he enjoyed the service and the fellowship.

Skip was proceeded in death by his parents, Lester and Jo Pratt; and his younger sister, Mary Jane Pratt.

Skip is survived by his loving wife, Ruby Pratt, of 17 years; his two younger brothers, David (Anna) and Leslie (Meloyne); his niece, Desiree; and nephews, Noah, Bailey, and Taylor.

In lieu of flowers, donations are appreciated; Tunnels to Towers Foundation (t2t.org) or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (stjude.org)

Services and a memorial will be held at Brazosport Baptist Temple on July 6, 2024, at 2:30 P.M. located at 1203 CR 205 Angleton, TX 77515; refreshments and appetizers to follow.