Everett H. Pratt, Jr

Lieutenant General Everett H. Pratt Jr., USAF, Retired, 73 of Prairie Grove, was born on November 25, 1943 in Covington, Georgia, to Everett and Ruth (nee Elliott) Pratt and passed away on March 15, 2017. Ev was the loving husband of Joyce (nee Rafferty) for 39 years; proud father of Thomas (Christine) Pratt and Stephen Pratt; cherished grandfather of Maeve Pratt; beloved brother of Sue Loiselle and Michael (Marty) Pratt; and uncle to many nieces and nephews. Ev entered the Air Force in 1964 as a graduate of the Emory University Reserve Officer Training Corps program in Atlanta.
He was a commander at all levels from squadron to numbered Air Force. He was a command pilot who flew more than 4,000 hours principally in fighter and trainer aircraft and flew as a fighter pilot and high-speed forward air controller in Vietnam. Ev earned a bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Emory University. He later graduated from the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, and the Executive Program in National and International Security at Harvard University.
He earned multiple awards and decorations including the Silver Star, the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross with three oak leaf clusters, Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Medal with 29 oak leaf clusters, and an Air Force Commendation Medal.
After retiring from the Air Force, Ev consulted for and worked at Northrop Grumman as Vice President of the Defensive Systems Division. He was an avid golfer and a life long fan of the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons. In his retirement he enjoyed traveling with Joyce, spending time all over the United States as well as Europe. During his time as a retired veteran, Ev was on the board of TLS Veterans in McHenry, Illinois, and Leave No Veteran Behind in Chicago; was an advocate for CASA; and a member of the U.S Air Force Retiree Council and Disabled American Veterans.
A visitation for Everett will be held on Tuesday, March 21, from 10am until the time of the service at 11am at Davenport Family Funeral Homes and Crematory, 419 E. Terra Cotta Ave (Rt. 176), Crystal Lake, IL 60014. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Everett to Transitional Living Services, McHenry, Illinois (www.tlsveterans.org) or to Leave No Veteran Behind (www.leavenoveteranbehind.org).