Harry Joseph Pratt's Obituary
Harry Joseph Pratt Jr, age 94, of Bartlett, TN, passed away peacefully on April 26, 2026. Harry was a man of quiet strength, steady character, and a profound love for the game – in almost any sport. He was a passionate athlete and sports enthusiast throughout his life, bringing a competitive spirit to everything he did. Whether watching his children on the field or watching his favorite teams, he enjoyed the excitement of a well-played game. He now rests in the arms of our Lord, watching from the best seat in the house.
Harry was a lifelong Memphian. Born in 1931, to parents Harry Joseph Pratt Sr. and Margaret Talbot Pratt, he was the 3rd of 4 children. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School (CBHS) in 1949 and earned an associate degree from Christian Brothers College (CBC) in 1951. He married the love of his life, Rita Jennings, in 1951 and proudly served his country in the US Army.
Harry was the proprietor of Advertising Art Company (est. 1941), a family-owned and operated printing business in downtown Memphis that is still in the hands of the Pratt family today. He was a member of the Memphis Chapter of International Printers Club and served as the chapter’s Vice President. Dad left a legacy of strong work ethics – integrity, accountability, discipline, focus, and dependability – to all his children.
Outside of his family and career in printing, Harry’s joy in life was sports. He loved the camaraderie and competitiveness of all types of sports. His passion was baseball, playing while at Little Flower Catholic School, at CBHS where he made the All-Memphis Baseball Team and went to the State Championship, at CBC, and for the American Legion. He was a long-term parishioner of St. Louis Catholic Church where he coached and drilled his sons’ baseball teams in the fundamentals of the game. Harry was also active in many bowling and softball leagues. He was always up to attend a baseball game and ready to recall a litany of the game’s players and stats. You would invariably find our dad watching some game or an old classic movie on TV with his bag of Lay’s potato chips. Dad taught his family that in life, as in sports, you play hard and you play fair.
Though his earthly journey has ended, the example Harry set and the love he gave will continue in the hearts of all who knew him.
Harry was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 53 years Rita, his youngest son Paul, his parents Harry Sr and Margaret, and 2 of his siblings George Sr and Hazel Lott. He is survived by his children: Harry III (Lisa}, Cathy (Bob) Daily, Ricky (Kathi), Bobby (Kathy), Michael (Anne), a daughter-in-law Dena, thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, his brother Gene, and a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation for Harry Pratt will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026, from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Overton Suite of Memorial Park Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 1:15 PM in St. Louis Catholic Church followed by internment at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
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