Jean M. Pratt

Jean Macdonald Pratt, 86, of Chatham, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully while asleep in her home on May 18, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was born to Rosamond Edwardes Macdonald and Dr. H. Eugene Macdonald.

Jean grew up in Yarmouth, Maine, until 1952, when the family moved to the trust territory of the Pacific, as her father, Dr. H. Eugene Macdonald, took a position in the medical administration.

Having spent several summers in the family home on Ministers Point, North Chatham, Jean returned to Chatham in 1956 and worked at Chatham Trust. She met Gordon on a double date in 1957. They married in Chatham in 1959.

As a military family, the Pratts lived on Andrews Air Force Base in small military housing (for 5 people!) while Gordon was assigned to Air Force One. All three sons were born at Andrews Air Force Base hospital.

When Gordon was deployed to Vietnam for one year, Jean and the boys returned to Chatham to live in the family two-room cottage next to his parents.

When Gordon returned from Vietnam in 1971, the family moved back to the Maryland base for two years and finished up Gordon's 20-year military career. In 1973 they were finally able to move home to Chatham into much bigger quarters in their newly built house right down the street from the little cottage.

Jean finally had room to create a warm, loving, cozy place where friends and family felt so comfortable participating in her wonderfully planned (or not planned) gatherings. These took place in not only their welcoming home but often overflowing into the delightful backyard gardens.

Their home was a result of Jean's love of discovering treasures at yard sales, thrift shops, and antiquing. Her ability to combine “found” objects and arrange them to create a real home that showed love and comfort was amazing. (Credit to Gordon for doing the picture hanging and yard work and following directions.)

Once back home in Chatham, Jean worked at Puritan Clothing, again able to use her creative and social skills. Their love of being hosts and from great experience in their travels, led Gordon and Jean to run a Bed and Breakfast at their home for seven years after they retired.

She enjoyed knitting but especially loved the people in her local knitting group. She was an avid water aerobics “Mermaid" making longtime friends as she always did with sister mermaids at the Liberty Commons pool. However, it was the warm sunshine of Chatham beaches that she preferred. She spent wonderful summer vacations in Maine on a lake where she taught her grandchildren knitting and cross-stitching and of course sat in the sun when not in the water. Sunscreen, however, was not her favorite thing to wear, although anything blue and white was.

Jean and Gordon loved to travel. They were able to use the amenities provided to retired veterans, such as staying on military bases including Hawaii, where Jean's sister and family lived. Like their dad, the three boys all enlisted in the Air Force. Jean and Gordon then traveled to the many places the boys were stationed throughout the world including Japan, England, Scotland, Ireland, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and Colorado. In retirement Gordon did love to drive and Jean did love to navigate (as in “that looks like a good place to stop!"). So, many day or weekend trips took place without the boys' watchful eyes.

She was predeceased by her husband Gordon Burgess Pratt and her brother Timothy Macdonald. Jean is survived by her sister Susan (Frisbee) Campbell of Hawaii and her three sons Scott (Heidi) Pratt of Gorham, ME, Michael (Tina) Pratt of Chatham, MA, and Andrew (Jolene) Pratt of Wiggins, MS. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A Sunset Celebration of Jean’s Life will be held on Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Hardings Beach. Please bring your beach chair and honor Jean by wearing her favorite colors of blue and white to the celebration of life.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to Broad Reach Hospice or Redemption Rock Church in South Chatham.