Jackie Donald Pratt

Jackie Donald Pratt, 90, of Irondale, Missouri, passed away at home on June 28, 2026. He was born on March 18, 1936, in Irondale to the late John Winston and Marple Mae Pratt.

      Jackie at the age of 14, worked on the railroad out west with his dad and his grandpa Christopher Pratt and other family members til the age of 17. He ventured east to Kansas City where he spoke to a recruiter and signed up to enter the Navy.

      Jackie entered the United States Navy as a young man in 1954. He served at the end of the Korean War and all of the conflict with Vietnam War, he rose to the rank of Senior Chief. He did numerous other jobs until retiring out of the Military Facility in West Memphis, Arkansas in October 1977. His distinguished service state side included assignments that took him across the country, including Great Lakes Naval Base, where he met his future wife, working as an investigator and an air marshal, leaving there he worked out of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Kentucky and West Memphis, Arkansas. After his retirement, he spent the rest of his life in Irondale, Missouri and he had many jobs including; owning a gas station in Irondale, drove over-the-road in a Kenworth truck, and later drove a school bus and school bus trainer for the Central R-3 School District before finally retiring in his early 70s.

      On December 27, 1972, Jackie married Connie Mae Wolfe in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He is survived by his children: Catherine Meri (Mark) Boyle of Park Hills, Missouri; Marguerite Louise Pratt and Darrell Lane Penberthy of Dexter, Missouri; Jacinta Raine Pratt of Irondale, Missouri; Krystal Renee Pratt of Potosi, Missouri; and Jacob Donald Pratt of Irondale, Missouri. He is also survived by his 2 granddaughters, Lauren Morgan (Sloane) Tiernan of Park Hills, Missouri, Paris Pratt of Potosi, Missouri and 6 grandsons; Jack Winston Pratt of Irondale, Missouri, and Daniel, Tommy, Wesley, Alexander and Ronan of Potosi, Missouri. He is also survived by his sister, Bonnie Weidemeir of Spokane, Washington.

      He is preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Carrol Sue Gray and Margarite Mills.    

       Jackie was a private person and a member of The First Baptist Church of Irondale. He will be remembered for his dedication to family, his work ethic, and his generous spirit.

      Arrangements and service details will be announced by the family.

      Watkins and Sons Funeral Home of Dexter, Missouri are handling the arrangements.

       www.watkinsfuneralhome.com