Extracted from The Port Arthur News (Port Arthur, TX)
Tuesday, May 24, 1966

Ruling Pending In Nederland Shooting Death

NEDERLAND, May 24 -- A verdict is pending in the gunshot death Monday of James Ray Pratt, 54, of 122 Eighth street, who was found dead at his home Monday at 1:45 p.m.

Justice of the Peace Wallace McCasland said Pratt had been shot once and a .22 caliber rifle was found near the body. He said an inquest ruling is awaiting the outcome of police laboratory tests.

Funeral services will be held tonight at 7:30 o'clock in the Weldon Davis Funeral home chapel with the Rev. J. R. Gwin, pastor of the Central Gardens Baptist church, officiating.

Graveside Rites

Graveside rites will be conducted Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Hemphill cemetery at Hemphill, Tex., with the Rev. Gwin officiating. The Weldon Davis Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

A native of Hemphill, Mr. Pratt had lived in Nederland the past 20 years. He was employed by the Neches Butane refinery and was a member of the Baptist faith.

Survivors

Survivors are his wife, Mrs. Lillie Belle Pratt of Nederland; four sons, Donald, Patrick and Michael Pratt, all of Nederland and James R. Pratt, Jr., of Beaumont; one daughter, Mrs. E. D. Babbit of Corpus Christi; four sisters, Mrs. Ruby LaSalle of Bridge City, Mrs. Robert Frederick of Houston, Mrs. Yvonne Grant of Lexington, Mass. and Mrs. Drew Stewart of Hemphill; four brothers, Woodrow Pratt of Port Neches, George Pratt of Omaha, Neb., and Hayes Pratt of Houston; and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pratt of Hemphill.

Pallbearers will be Conley Webb, D. E. Knight, David Landry, A. B. Enner, Elton DeCuir, and Chester Sanders.