Elvin William Pratt

Bill was born on March 5, 1929 to Elvin and Mary Pratt, and was the little brother to Margie. Raised in Portland he enjoyed a Tom Sawyer childhood and if there was a Huck Finn it was Ernie Marbott. Together they shared adventures and got into plenty of trouble.

Bill attended Jefferson High in Portland and Oregon State before joining the Navy. During that time he met and fell in love with his wife of 64 years, Shirley. Blessed with 3 daughters Kathryn, Jeannie and Lynn, as a family they shared joyous occasions and supported each other during trials and times of sorrow. Many fond memories are recalled with the Mastandrea family including camping trips and Civil War spaghetti dinners.

Bill worked for a lumber yard and then Multnomh County. He retired as the City of Portland's Chief Building Inspector. During retirement he traveled to many places around the world, relishing the history of each. But Napili on the island of Maui was his favorite. He enjoyed snorkeling and swimming with the turtles. Many trips to Hawaii were special vacations shared with his sister Margie and her husband, Don.

He was an avid reader, particularly of historical fiction. He researched the history of places before he visited and was always more than a tourist taking in the sights.

Bill also enjoyed a good game of cards. For many years he and Shirley played pinochle with a group of friends and later joined a neighborhood poker group. He was also known to try his hand at Black Jack.

With an appreciation for the outdoors, Bill worked clearing and maintaining trails in the Siskiyou's as a teenager. As a young adult he attacked Mt. Hood with wooden skis and bear claw bindings. He was a certified scuba diver, but loved the water whether snorkeling, swimming, water skiing or rafting. He shared his love of the outdoors with his family on many camping trips to Fort Stevens, Cultus Lake and Lost Lake. He led many family hikes in the Mount Hood National Forest and to the many falls in the Columbia Gorge.

Bill had a green thumb and his yard on Holladay Street was not only a floral showcase but produced bountiful harvests of fruits and vegetables.

As a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church and then St. Aidan's he was always more than a pew warmer. He served on church Vestries and as Junior Warden, helping to maintain the buildings and grounds of both churches. He often greeted parishioners as an usher and helped at some very busy crab feeds at St. Aidan's. Until recent years Bill and Shirley volunteered at the soup kitchen in Gresham. He also worked as a volunteer with the Friends of Multnomah Falls.

Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley; his daughters Kathryn Goodwin (Allen), Jeannie Pratt, Lynn Jones (Rickard); his grandchildren Katie Goodwin, Jared Jones (Alisa), Colleen Tyler (Josh), Andrew Goodwin (Amy), Abby Jones, and Matthew Goodwin; and his great grandchildren Landon Jones, Helen Goodwin, and Amerli' Tyler.

As a loving and generous father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend, he will be missed.

Special offerings in memory of Bill may be made to St. Aidan's Episcopal Church and the Snow Cap Project.