Earl F. Pratt

Dad/Papa passed away Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was 90 years old. Dad was born June 24, 1927 in Santa Monica, California to Sophia Flagel and Charles Pratt.

His family moved to Yakima when he was 6 years old where he embarked on a long and fulfilling life. While attending Yakima High School, he was recognized as one of Yakima's premiere athletes, where he excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He earned an athletic scholarship to play football at Washington State College (present-day WSU) where he was a co-founder of the Washington State College Phi Gamma Delta fraternity. At the fraternity house, he served as a cook where his culinary skills emerged. Although football and a free meal sustained the young ambitious freshman, he had yet to discover what he was truly missing.

On a blind date in the spring of 1950, he met the love of his life, Marilyn M. Davis. He tells the story of their first dates to family with vivid detail as if it were yesterday. “As Marilyn came walking down the Alpha Phi sorority steps to greet me, she was stunning; wearing a peach colored dress, sporting her Lake Chelan golden tan, gleaming with her beautiful contagious smile. I knew at that moment, I wasn’t going to let her get away.” They married in 1951 and those 65 years were truly a love story.

After marriage, mom and dad spent 12 years in Wenatchee where they made many life long friends. He worked 9 years for Keokuk Electro Metals as their personnel and safety director, was parade chairman of the 1961 Wenatchee Apple Blossom festival, and Co-Founder of the Three Lakes Golf Club.

Upon accepting a job with Michelson Packaging Company, they moved the family to Yakima in 1964. Dad spent 30-years with Michelson Packaging and retired as President in 1991. He was known as a fearless supportive leader, mentor, visionary with a growth mindset. During his presidency the company acquired 7 parcels of adjacent land to accommodate expansion, purchased the Simms Manufacturing Plant, Fresno Jiffy plant, developed Central WA recycling, and the Michelson Logo.

Aside from his career he was heavily involved in the community. He played an active role in Rotary Club, was a key member in forming the Greenway project, and Co-Founder of the Yakima Athletic Club, established in 1979.

They raised their four children (Noreen, Kristin, Steve and Mike) in Yakima while enjoying life adventures at Lake Chelan, Hawaii, La Jolla and Palm Desert. Dads hobbies consisted of attending and participating in sporting events, fishing, hunting, golf, tennis and real estate. His artistic talents included painting, music, wood carving, creative writing, and joke telling.

Upon retirement, Mom and Dad enjoyed wintering in Palm Desert, and summers at Lake Chelan, which was his favorite place on earth. He loved being at the lake surrounded by family, friends and neighbors. A typical day started with breakfast consisting of waffles and eggs, pack up a lunch, grab fishing gear, a partner, and head up lake to hit the creeks.

As a result of his care free attitude, many guests and/or fishing partners experienced boat mishaps including but not limited to: running aground, breaking props, nudging an occasional boat sharing the same fishing hole, or running out of gas requiring the flagging down of another boat, and even asking the Lady of the Lake for a tow. The daily return of the Lady of the Lake commenced cocktail hour. The stories are endless. Dad positively impacted and mentored the lives of many and will forever be remembered as “Earl the Pearl”.

In his children and grandchildren, he instilled the core values of honesty, integrity, hard work, and valuing friends & family. Dad was a faithful devoted husband and the best father a child could have.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Pratt, and parents Charles and Sophia Pratt. Dad is survived by his 4 children, Noreen Johnson, Kristin Yazhari, Steve (Cindy) Pratt, Mike (Stephanie) Pratt, 7 grandchildren; Michael (Lynda)Yazhari, Patrick Yazhari, Emily Wood, Hillary Pratt, Rozlyn Pratt, Jacob Pratt, Sarah Pratt and great grandson Cole Yazhari, and brother Russell Tremayne.

We will miss his passion for the arts, quick wit, dirty jokes, cleaver Christmas cards and his memorable family reunions. Dad loved life, God bless "the keeper.” Dad/Papa, we know you are at peace together with your soulmate (mom).

The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Virginia Mason Memorial Hospital for their loving care over the past 2 weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be make in dads memory to the Yakima Greenway Foundation or charity of your choice.

A celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

To share a memory of Earl, please visit www.keithandkeith.com