William Wayne “Bill” Pratt passed away Jan. 23, 2025, at Summit Pacific Hospital in Elma, Washington. He was the son of Lloyd and Dorothy (Colborn) Pratt both deceased. He was born in Crandon, Wisconsin on June 5, 1938 and moved to Bay Center, Washington at the age of 3 later moving to South Bend.
He attended South Bend schools graduating in 1958. He was a four year letterman in both track and field where he received several ribbons and was a four year letterman in basketball where he received a trophy for the most inspirational player. He also received a basketball scholarship for college.
In 1961 he married the love of his life Sonja (Jensen) Pratt after meeting her at the Raymond swimming pool in 1957. They lived in South Bend eventually moving to Aberdeen and then to Montesano in 1970 where they reside currently. They had two girls Connie born in 1962 and Peggy born in 1964.
Bill worked planting trees, worked in the oysters, gas station, worked helping to build the Hoquiam swimming pool then finally working in construction and dredging. He was a member of Local 302 of the Operating Engineers for 58 years and the Montesano Moose Lodge for 38 years. He worked from Prudhoe Bay and Homer, Alaska all the way down the west coast including Jacksonville, Florida and for the last 35 years for Manson Construction and Engineering of Seattle where he retired in 2003 as a superintendent.
He was a very hard worker and a master of all trades, there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He was happy if he had a bag of cement and some large rocks to build rock walls. His most enjoyment came when he caught his first salmon and from then on fished whenever he could.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years at the family home in Montesano, daughters Connie Pratt and Peggy (Pratt) Winsley and Robin, grandson, Nicholas Lockwood, granddaughter, Rachel (Chism) Boomerscheim and Shane, and granddaughter Nicole Winsley, and the apple of his eye Pearl Boomerscheim age 3. Also, his sister Betty Pratt. He had two other siblings Edgar Pratt and Judy (Pratt) Church both deceased.
At his request there will be no service or funeral.
