Stanton Pratt
Stanton E. Pratt passed away on Tuesday, December 12, 2017, at the age of 95.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 73 years, Quilla Wheeler Pratt. He is also preceded in death by his parents, Edsel and Lizzie Rose Pratt; brother, Robert Pratt; sister, Beverly (Hamilton) Boothby; sister, Katherine (Wesley) Goding; nephew, Carson Goding; and brother-in-law, Leon (Margaret) Wheeler.
He is survived by his brother, Eugene (Muriel) Pratt; his daughter, Linda (David) Derrick; two grandsons, Chas (Kathy) Peppers; and Ben (Lana) Peppers; and three great-grandchildren, Samuel, Lily, and Tait. He is also survived by eight nieces and nephews and their families.
Stan was born and grew up in the same family home in which his mother was born in Turner, Maine. His father owned and ran the rural community feed and general store across the street from their home, and Stan attended a one-room school for eight years before attending and graduating from Leavitt High School. In 1942, he enlisted in the army and trained at Camp Sibert in Attala, AL where he met the love of his life, Quilla Wheeler and married her just days before being sent to serve as an infantry sergeant in Europe for the next 2 years during WW II. Upon returning home, they lived in Maine for several years before moving to Quilla’s home, LaFayette, GA in 1951 where they resided for the rest of their lives. They were members of the First Baptist Church LaFayette.
Stan was a man of strong principles with a strong work ethic. He was a contractor and carpenter and leaves a legacy of numerous homes, schools, government buildings, commercial facilities and churches that he built in the North GA area. He was very proud that his two grandsons inherited his talent for building and are carrying on his legacy as a contractor and architect. He tried retiring at age 62, but retirement was not for him and he learned to be a machinist and worked at Whitten Machine until he was 85. His carpentry skills then became a hobby that he enjoyed in his wood shop.
His rural New England upbringing gave him a determined spirit to never give up. At age 64, he developed oral and neck cancer that he fought for 31 years as it slowly took his ability to eat solid food and speak. But he never gave into it, and cancer did not win. He died a peaceful death from pneumonia.
Stan was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, and fisherman. Since he has outlived all his hunting and fishing friends, the family has asked their sons to serve as his pallbearers along with his neighbors. He was also a life-long learner and avid reader. When his health no longer allowed him to participate in other hobbies, he still read daily. Donations can be made to the First Baptist Church LaFayette Library Fund, 201 N Main St., LaFayette, GA 30728.
The family would like to thank Stan’s neighbors, Joan Butler and Beacher Garmany, and his Home Health nurse, Debbie Queen for their care and attention that enabled Stan to remain independent in his home until his death.
The family will receive friends at Wallis-Wilbanks Funeral Home, 121 W Villanow St., LaFayette, GA on Saturday, Dec. 16, from 5–7 p.m., and the service officiated by Dr. Warren Moorhead will be on Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2 p.m. in the Wallis-Wilbanks Chapel.