John "Jay" Grover Pratt, Jr.

JOHN "JAY" GROVER PRATT, JR., was 98 years old when he died on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at Briarwood Nursing Home in Little Rock, AR. He was born in El Dorado, Ark., on August 6, 1922, the youngest child of John G. Pratt, Sr. and Willie Mae Hudson Pratt. He enjoyed growing up with two older sisters, a brother and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corp during World War II as a recruiting sergeant and entertainer at GI Camp shows. During the Korean War, he served on the front lines with the American Red Cross as an assistant field director. Jay was a graduate of Baylor University, University of Arkansas, and University of Texas. While registering at U.T., he met Nancy Tasker of Houston, Texas. They were married for 59 years and had 4 daughters. Jay and Nancy built a business together in Little Rock, Wilbert Burial Vault Company, that is still operated by dedicated employees and family. For decades, Jay was a faithful teacher and choir member at Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church and Henderson United Methodist Church; he loved to sing and perform. A private service was held for family on Saturday, May 15, 2021, at Roller Chenal Funeral Home, where family reminisced and listened to a recording of Jay singing. He was laid to rest at Forest Hills Cemetery in Alexander, Ark., the next day after his family sang to him. A loving and dedicated husband and father, Jay is survived by his daughters, Marsha Pratt of Little Rock, Debora Brown of Maumelle, Cathy Graves (Ken) of Benton, Linda Graves (Roy) of Benton; and eleven grandchildren: Kyle, Patricia (Corey Womack), Adam, Ava and William Graves, Jonathan, Joy, Lawrence, Abi, Kidist Brown; Kristen Arnold (Cody); and three great-grandsons. The family can be reached at P.O. Box 488, Alexander, Ark., 72002 To sign the online guest book, please visit, www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal