Mary learned the value of hard work and frugality as a child on her family farm in Emmett, Idaho. There was always work to be done, and after her father passed away in a mining accident when she was 13, Mary was in charge of the house and her 3 brothers.
After high school, Mary moved to live with her Aunt Sara and Uncle Vern Yates. Their influence changed her life. While attending Brigham Young University she met a handsome sailor named Parker Pratt on a blind date. Years later, after Parker’s discharge from the Navy, they were married in the Logan Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Mary supported Parker through his schooling at Utah State, Iowa State and Ohio State. After completing his PhD, they settled in Riverside where Parker taught at the University of California, they raised 4 children and lived for the next 53 years. For the last 8 years, Mary has lived in Georgia with her daughter Koleen.
Mary was an avid reader, excellent cook and seamstress. She taught sewing in 4-H and took tailoring classes at RCC. She loved to work in her rose garden and was active in the Riverside Rose Society. Mary loved chocolate and nuts. A chocolate chip cookie had to have as many nuts as chocolate chips or it was not acceptable!
Parker and Mary had many opportunities to travel. The family lived for a year in Brazil, which she loved; but her favorite was a car trip from Switzerland to Croatia. In Croatia she met her uncles, gathered family history and learned about her father’s culture. She always said the Adriatic Coast was the most beautiful in the world.
Mary was very active in her church. She served as President of the Relief Society (the women’s organization of the church) three times. She diligently ministered to those in her care and made lots of bread and cooked many meals that were not for her family. She transcribed over 100,000 names from handwritten historical documents into searchable electronic format, a task she loved and continued until she was well into her 90’s.
Surviving are her children, Craig (Deanna), Koleen Shaw, Kathleen Hyde (George), daughter-in-law, DeeAnn Pratt, 19 grandchildren and 42 great-grandchildren. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Charles, Tony and Boyd, son Von and son-in-law, Larry Shaw.
Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary, 7944 Magnolia Ave., Riverside, CA 92504 with visitation at 9 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humanitarian Aid Fund of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AchesonandGraham.com for the Pratt family.
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