Jack Sterling Pratt

On January 9th, 2022, Jack Sterling Pratt passed away peacefully at home. Jack was born on March 25, 1943 in Durant, Oklahoma to Jack and Pauline Pratt. "Jackie" grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated from Northeast High School in 1961 where he earned the title of "Mr. Peppy". He excelled in baseball and participated in football and basketball. He was president of the "O" Club, awarded all city player and part of many championship teams. Upon enrollment at the University of Oklahoma, he "walked on" to the OU baseball team, but quickly realized his baseball career would continue from the stands. He attended the University of Oklahoma from 1961 to 1965 and was an active member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity where he met and made lifelong friends. His freshman year, Jack was introduced to Nikki Mangum at the all school dance at Cate Center the night before the semester started. They were married in 1965. That same year, Jack began law school at OU and earned his Juris Doctorate degree in 1968. Jack then served as Second Lieutenant in the Army from 1968 to 1970, including one year in Vietnam. Upon his return to civilian life and employment, he served as one of the Assistant Attorneys General to G. T. Blankenship. Then counsel to legal aid society under A.L. Rakestraw, and served among general counsels for Insurance Commissioner, Joe B. Hunt. He joined the family business, Jack Pratt Screen Ad Co. in 1974, alongside his sister, Jennie, their parents, Jack and Pauline, and fellow employees helping them to build the company to where it is today. Jack worked there until his retirement in 2000. He loved working at the shop and his employees were like family to him. Jack always joyfully pursued his extracurricular activities and, if you know Jack, you know what they are; horse racing, baseball (Cardinal baseball exclusively), traveling, tennis, and as each of them came along, his seven grandchildren. "Pop" was their greatest fan and biggest supporter. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Nikki Mangum Pratt, his daughter, Sara Gae Waters and her husband Greg; his son, Monte Pratt and his wife Ashlyn; sister, Jennie Penner and her husband Ric; grandchildren, Elizabeth, Jack, Kate and Cooper Waters; and Jack, Barrett and Emme Pratt; brother-in-law, Clay Mangum and his wife Janice; nephews, Pete Penner and his wife Sarah and Jay Penner and Marcella; nieces, Kelly Duke and her husband Charles and Hayley Wood and her husband Drew. He has two surviving aunts, Ruth Crow and Billie Reed and several cousins. His family and his friends were everything to him. Jack always had a story or a quote to share and one of his favorites was "you ought to make a bet every day. You might be walking around lucky all day and not know it." He believed he was a lucky man, and we were lucky to have him. We will miss him every single day. Funeral service for Jack Pratt will be Tuesday, January 18th 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist church, 222 N.W. 15th Street, OKC, OK 73103. The service can also be viewed online at stlukesokc.online.churchIn lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Jack's name to www.standuptocancer.org