Mary Ellen Pratt

Mary Ellen Pratt, 93, of Missoula, Montana, the beloved wife of the late Charles O. Pratt, passed peacefully Sunday.

She lived in Missoula for the past three years, near one of her daughters.

Mary Ellen was born March 16, 1924, in Pittsburgh, the only daughter of Malcolm R. McConnell and Mary Ellen Bateman. Her father remarried, and Mary Ellen became the oldest sister to Barbara, Helen, Malcolm and Richard. Helen Copeland of Ohio and Malcolm of New York survive her. Richard and Barbara preceded her in death.

Mary Ellen had three children. She is survived by her daughters, Ruth Ellen (Ron) McCloskey and Karen (Bruce Rieman) Pratt. Her daughter, Nancy (David) Saville, preceded her in death.

She cherished her five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, who survive her, Angela, David C., Daniel, Craig, Natalie, Nancy, Katherine, Maria, Giuliana and William.

Most of her youth was spent in two places: the Mount Lebanon area of Pittsburgh and at the family cottage on Mount Tom Pond in Northwestern Connecticut. In Pennsylvania, she attended the Beverly Heights Church and graduated from Mount Lebanon High School. In 1946 Mary Ellen graduated from Elmira College in New York, where she met her lifelong friend, Jane Sokoll.

On June 21, 1947, Mary Ellen married Charles O. Pratt Jr. They lived in New York and New Jersey, before settling in Pittsburgh and raising their daughters. Once the girls were grown, Mary Ellen and Charles moved in 1977 to a small farm in Valencia, Pa., and became active members of the Gospel Fellowship PCA in Valencia. When they left the farm they moved to Cabot. Mary Ellen moved to Montana in 2013.

Mary Ellen was a joyful participant in life. She was an intensely private person with an adroit sense of humor. She was cheerful even in difficult situations.

She loved music, flower gardening, geese at the farm, playing cards and reading. As a young woman she was very athletic and loved many kinds of outdoor activities. She swam until late in life.

Much of her life she was an active volunteer. She worked with Girl Scouts and was a Scout leader for her daughters.

Mary Ellen will be greatly missed.

PRATT — There will be no visitation for Mary Ellen Pratt, who died Sunday, April 23, 2017.A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Gospel Fellowship PCA, 161 McFann Road, Valencia, with the Rev. Nick Protos officiating. Private internment will be conducted Thursday at the Mount Lebanon Cemetery.The Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies, 2510 Spurgin Road, Missoula, Mont., assisted with the arrangements.Flowers may be sent for the service to Gospel Fellowship.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Hospice of Missoula, 1900 S. Reserve St., Missoula, MT, 59801.