Helen Joyce (Hughart) Pratt, 92, of Traverse City, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2017 at St. Luke's Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Helen was born on Saturday, September 26, 1925, to the late Waldo M. and Mary B. (Smith) Hughart, in Minneapolis, MN. The family later moved to Traverse City, where Helen attended local schools, graduating from Central High School in 1943. Hellen attended Western Michigan College (University), and then became an elementary school teacher in Traverse City. In later years she earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education from San Diego State College in 1961. While in high school, Helen played flute in the band, where she met another flutist, Don Pratt. They became close friends and after Don returned from WWII, they were married on June 10, 1946 at Central United Methodist Church. They were married for more than 70 years.

Helen taught Kindergarten in the San Diego School District and the Birmingham-Bloomfield (Michigan) School District. Don and Helen retired when they lived in Birmingham, Michigan, and in 1988 they moved back to the Old Mission Peninsula near Traverse City. At that time Helen became an active member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Traverse City, where she had attended Sunday School as a child.

Helen was a member of the Grand Traverse Area Genealogical Society, the Michigan Mayflower Society, the Job Winslow Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society and the Yuba Historical Society. Helen was an avid gardener and birder. She supported the local activities of the Nature Conservancy.

Helen and Don shared a passion for working on family genealogy. They spent many years researching as well as visiting areas where their families had ancestral roots. They also spent many hours physically researching and visually surveying Oakwood Cemetery so that records would be correct. Their other shared interest was ballroom dancing. Over many years they took lessons and became very proficient. At their 70th wedding anniversary in June 2016, they thrilled those in attendance with their skill and grace on the dance floor.

Helen is survived by her two sons, Bruce (Trish) of Columbus, NC, Kenneth of St. Louis, MO; grandchildren, Alexander Pratt of Philadelphia, PA Kristin (Charley) Martin of St. Louis, MO, Katie (Paul) Rooprai of Louisville, KY, Kevin (Katherine) Pratt of Seattle, WA, Alison (Chad) Reid of Livingston, TX, Catherine (David) Wallace of St. Louis, MO; and her great grandchildren, Pierson and Marin Rooprai and River Martin. Helen is also survived by her sister, Dorothy B. Pope of Elgin, Oregon and her brother, Waldo (Mary) Hughart of Pell City. AL. Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Donald S. Pratt and their daughter, Mary Cecile Wiegand.

A memorial service celebrating Helen's life will be held at 3:00 PM Saturday, July 7, 2018 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Later that day, a brief graveside ceremony will be conducted at 6:00 PM at Oakwood Cemetery.

Rather than flowers, contributions honoring Helen's memory may be direct to The First Church of Christ, Scientist, 330 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684-2414.