Virginia "Jinx" Pratt

Virginia “Jinx” Elaine (Losey) Pratt, 105 years young, passed away on November 4, 2023. She was met by her precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and her life is now complete and whole with Him. She was born on November 2, 1918 in Casper, WY to Joseph Estes and Viola Bowman Losey formerly of Loveland, CO. She was later joined by two brothers, Leon ‘Bud” Losey and Ronald “Dude” Losey.

She was the typical “tomboy” as an older sister. She desired to play baseball with her brothers and their friends and was turned down because she was a girl. Go figure. She was given the nickname “Jinx” at the age of 11 by a childhood friend. This young lady soon grew to be a vibrant and lovely red-headed BEAUTY.

She attended public schools in Casper, WY and graduated from Natrona County High School with the Class of 1935. She was 16 years of age. She lost her mother the same year. Life was hard having endured this loss and the country was experiencing the Great Depression (1929-1939).

Jinx had numerous jobs over the course of her life. She was employed by Mountain Bell as a telephone switchboard operator. At the time of this employment, she had one dress, one coat, and one pair of shoes. She had to leave this job after a year and a half, after she met her future husband, William Edward Pratt. She married William Edward Pratt on March 21, 1938 in Scottsbluff, NE. Employers did not permit married women to have jobs outside of the home because raising a family was a full-time job. They shared thirty-seven years together until his death in December of 1975.

Born of this union were three daughters, Viola Jane (Pratt) Nelson, Vicki Jeanne Henderson, and Virginia Lea Denton. First daughter was born pre-World War II, second daughter during the World War II and third daughter post World War II.

During her life, she was employed by J.C. Penney as a clerk, and for Lee’s Glass and Woodmen Accident and Life Insurance Company as a secretary and bookkeeper. Her last place of employment was with Wyoming Medical Center in Casper as a switchboard operator and cashier.

Her best role in life was being a mother. She loved and cherished her daughters and was ever present in their younger and adult years. She also cherished being a grandmother, great grandmother, and a great-great grandmother. She had frequent visits with family and friends from Colorado and California. She made numerous trips to Eureka, CA to spend time with her father, daughter, son-in-law, aunt and cousins. Many fond memories were made in Jinx’s fabulous big back yard in Casper and with family in Estes Park.

She was a member of the Navy Wives during WW II and a lifetime member of the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed reading her Bible (King James Version) daily; her favorite passage was Psalms 23. She was a devout Christian and a lifetime member of the First Baptist Church of Casper, WY until she moved to Estes Park in 2010 where she attended the Christian Church of Estes Park.

Virginia is preceded in death by her husband William Edward Pratt, a Navy veteran, her mother Viola Bowman Losey, her brother Ronald “Dude” Losey who served in the Air Force, received the purple heart award, and died in the Philippine Islands during WW II, her brother Leon “Bud” Losey, her father Joseph Estes Losey, also a Navy veteran and her son-in-law Thomas William Nelson, an Army veteran.

She is survived by her daughters, Viola Jane (Pratt) Nelson of Eureka, CA, Vicki Jeanne Henderson (Carl) of Estes Park, and Virginia Lea “Gini” Denton (Floyd) also of Estes Park, CO. Grandchildren: Lori (Mickey) Hatchell of Eaton, CO, Marcie Kiser of Windsor, CO, Joshua Henderson of Estes Park, Brent Henderson of Idaho Falls, ID, Jennifer (Terry) Haak of Berryton, KS, Vicki Denton of Loveland, CO, Kathleen (Scott) Campbell of Colorado Springs, CO, and James L. Nelson of Hammond, Oregon. Jinx had 13 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren, a niece and a nephew, and 6 cousins as well.

Her family enjoyed her sense of humor, her generosity, kindness and love. In recent years she taught us “Grace in Aging”. She was an extraordinary gift to all that knew her and she will be deeply missed.

There will be a Celebration of Life on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at the Christian Church of Estes Park (4655 US Highway 36) at 2:00PM with a reception to follow. Please join the family for this wonderful event.

Interment will be in the Highland Cemetery in Casper, WY at a later date. She will be laid to rest beside her mother.

Please leave memories and photos for the family to later enjoy in a special memory book at the Allnutt Funeral Service website: www.allnuttestespark.com

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Christian Church of Estes Park 4655 US Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517