John Philip Pratt

John Philip Pratt (“Jeff”), age 83, died at home in Salem, Oregon, on March 6, 2026, as a result of prostate cancer.

He was born on December 26, 1942, in Wilmington, Delaware, to Mary Laurel Pratt (née Whittaker) and Jay Charles Pratt.

Jeff graduated from Woodstown High School in Woodstown, NJ, in 1960, after which he joined the U.S. Army. He was first stationed in Washington, DC, as a courier and was later transferred to Key West, FL, on special assignment. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army as a Sergeant E-5.

While in Key West, he met his future bride, Roberta Anne Little, whom he married on August 8, 1963, in Salem, NJ. He attended Miami Dade Junior College for one year in Miami, FL, and then transferred to Florida Bible College, from which he graduated in 1966 with a degree in Bible. They moved to Cape Cod, MA, where he began his ministry by starting a church plant.

In 1968, he was accepted with Village Missions. He pastored churches in Valsetz, OR; Azalea, OR; Pine Valley, CA; Horse Creek, CA; and Beaver, OR. After 39 years of serving with Village Missions, he retired to Forest Grove, OR, where he and his wife had the privilege of babysitting two of their grandchildren for the next six years. In 2023, he moved to Salem, OR, where he passed away.

Jeff had a passionate personality. He was deeply devoted to his relationship with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and never lost the wonder that Jesus died on the cross to pay for his sins and rose again from the dead, proving his salvation was accomplished.

He was passionate about his marriage. He was enamored with his wife, Anne, of 62 years from the first day he met her, reminding her every day that she was the “love of his life.” He loved telling the story of how he met his wife (while working undercover in Key West) and of her kissing him at the top of the Eiffel Tower on Father’s Day in 2018.

He was passionate about and fully devoted to his four children and wrote letters to each of them twice a week during their college years and at least once a week for several decades afterward. He was the family’s primary communicator, keeping everyone close. Even just days before his death, he continued to email his children often, staying in touch with them and his grandchildren.

He was passionate about his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, believing each one to be a special and unique gift from God, and delighting in the evidence of God’s continuation of the family line.

He was also passionate about the missionary couples he met during his years of service with Village Missions, always amazed to be counted among such high-caliber servants of God.

He was passionate about and deeply appreciated the loving, generous, and thoughtful individuals, couples, and families he had the privilege of ministering to and alongside during his years of pastoring. Each was a true gift from God who blessed his life in many ways and times.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, R. Anne Pratt; his children, Laurie Lozier (Brett), John Pratt Jr. (Annabelle), Tachan Matteo (Mike), and Lisa Lewis (Michael); his grandchildren, Josiah Lozier (Elaine), Haley Lozier, Luke Lozier (Corrie), Alton Lozier (Sabrina), Hannah Marie Pratt, David Pratt, Michael Matteo (Brooke), Joseph Matteo (Brecklin), Emma Matteo, Grace Matteo, Hunter Lewis (Samantha), Camelia Richins (Jonas), and Olivia Lewis; his great-grandchildren, Levi, Jemma, Rowan, Jared, Jackson, Ezra, Charlotte, Myles, and Noa; his sisters, Kathryn McKeon and Jayelaurel Davis; and his brother, Peter Pratt.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jay and Mary Pratt, and his grandson, Whittaker Scott Lozier.

A private graveside service will be held at a later time.