Karen Lynne Pratt

To know Karen was to love Karen, but one truly had to know her to truly appreciate a relationship with this remarkable woman. She was complex in her nature, but very simple in her direct manner of living a life of great love for her dogs, love of the arts and culture, travel, and intensely loyal friends. She was born to a family not without it’s own brand of dysfunction and gave every effort throughout her life to remain the glue and an accurate interpreter of the path through a difficult landscape the family traveled. Karen had 12 children and was preceded in death by Lassie, Matilda, Bruce, MacTavish, Heidi, Corky, Piper, Oliver, Doogie, Brina, and Misty. She is survived by one son, Scotty. She was preceded in death by her parents Thomas M Pratt Jr. and Ruth Mary Pratt (original family home in Raytown, Missouri), and her brothers Ret.LtCol. Thomas M. Pratt, III, USMC, (and Jan) of Prescott, Arizona and Craig T. Pratt, MD and spouse-Karen’s natural friend and confidant-Colleen Opremcak, MD of Columbus, Ohio. She was the Aunt to Sheryl Pratt-Biermann (and Rick) who tirelessly cared for and watched over Karen in her last years, of Liberty, Missouri; the late Thomas M. Pratt, IV formerly of New York, Andy Pratt of New York, Mary Pratt of Flagstaff, Arizona, and Brig.General Helen Pratt USMC, of Florida and many places she can’t tell us about. Also aunt to Sabrina S Pratt-Sellers, JD (and Kyle) of New Albany, Ohio and Tyler T Pratt of West Hollywood, California. A Great Aunt to Kaycee, Kristy, and Katrina of Sheryl and Rick; and to Addison and Harper of Sabrina and Kyle, Thomas and Lani Weis of Mary. Honorable mention goes to Shelley Opremcak, of Columbus, Ohio and Jessie and Andrew Wasson of West Jefferson, Ohio. We are indebted to Elaine and Charlie Boten extraordinarily protective, loving, neighbors, but more so the best neighbors for which anyone could ask. Cannot forget Karen’s kid’s pediatrician, Inderjitt Marjara, DVM, and her marvelous staff must be mentioned as well. Cousin, Bob Drury, a quiet soul who is and always has been there, thank you. To Sigma Sigma Sigma Sisters Pat Slover Arey and Phyllis Comvast!; since 1898: “From our earliest days, we seek out others to accompany us on our journey. There will be many acquaintances as we travel along our path. Among them will be found some with whom we feel a special bond…a rapport to be welcomed and nurtured. There may be one or two…there may be a hundred.”

As I write this (Craig-the perspective of an “oops child”) Karen had so many meaningful relationships over the years who provided the perception that I was always surrounded by a group of remarkable loving parent-types, whereby a circus scenario of never being clear on who was related to who or why was coupled to the rather large number of ‘relationships’ who provided my “performance evaluation” in grades 1 through 12?! Karen’s life is hard to summarize as the fullness of one’s life is not based on “your stuff” but as the Wizard said, “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others.” In walking through Karen and Mom’s house there was pile after pile of letters, cards, and pictures…lots of letters, cards, and pictures. Anyone Karen loved was family. Sis I want you to know that Scottie will have a younger little sister when we get him to his new home; her name is Petunia. We thought it would be nice to send Misty and Brena home with you, as you never did a thing without considering the kids welfare. It’s your turn.