Age 81, passed away Monday night, November 21, 2022. Ernie was born in Escanaba, MI, on July 25, 1941, the son of Maurice Y. and Anita (Lambert) Pratt. On November 18, 1961, he married Elaine Sylvia Bennett who survives him. Ernie served for many years as a Deputy Sheriff on the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Department. Later he worked as a traveling salesman. In his retirement he worked for Brutsche Concrete products where he met several funeral directors in the area, who enjoyed him and have happy memories of him. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church and served on the Knights of Columbus. He proudly served his nation in the United States Navy. He loved singing barbershop with the Mall City Harmonizers. He had a mechanically curious mind and loved tinkering with and fixing things. Ernie taught gun safety for over 40 years. Nothing was more important to him than his family and if his kids were involved in it, he was there. Besides his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Rachel Aguilera, Dawn Sims, Joanne (Rob) Donovan; son, Tom Pratt; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; sister, Juanita Lockwood; several nieces and nephews; and many, many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson Jose’ Aguilera.