Louise Tanner Pratt

Louise Tanner Pratt (born Billie Louise Compton) came into this world on February 20, 1935, in the small town of Grants, New Mexico. She was born to loving parents, Calvin and Lucille Compton, and was the fifth of eleven children. She would always describe her childhood as a happy one and, in turn, provided an idyllic one for us. While they lived in several areas in New Mexico and Colorado during her early years (she attended 6 different schools before 5^th grade), it was Monticello, Utah that she called home. Moving there changed her life significantly. For the first time, they lived close enough to town to walk to school—and compared to the one-room schoolhouses they’d attended up to that point, this one felt huge. Oh, how she loved Monticello! And the town loved her back—voting her the school sweetheart of 1952.  She always advised us to honk anytime we drove through in order to show respect for the town that raised her. They lived there six years, by far the longest they’d ever spent in one place, and then moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where she would attend her junior and senior years of high school.

The love story between Louise and Don Tanner began in true 1950’s fashion: at the local drive-in where she’d ordered a soda while cruising Main. Don and his buddy pulled up next to Louise and her friend, who were sitting in her friend’s white and blue convertible, and to hear Don tell it, there were fireworks. For him, anyway. Louise took a little more convincing. Not much though, they met in early May, were inseparable by June, engaged in August, and married that November 5, 1955, in a small church in Farmington. They would later be sealed for time and all eternity in the Mesa, Arizona temple on June 3, 1959. Don and Louise welcomed six kids in the short span of 11 years. They filled their home with laughter, love, joy, and an enduring faith in Jesus Christ. It was that deep and abiding faith that sustained Louise as she lost her son, Sheldon, in 2004, and then Don in 2007. After losing her sweet husband of 51 years, she declared to anyone who asked (and often those who didn’t) she would never marry again. Then along came Wayne Pratt and she quickly changed her tune. They were married on December 29, 2009 in Mesa, Arizona. In speaking of finding love twice, Louise would often borrow a quote from the Sound of Music: “Somewhere in my youth and childhood, I must have done something good to deserve not just one, but two, amazing husbands.” We’re quite sure Don and Wayne would both say they came away the winners.

We are blessed to have learned invaluable lessons from Louise during her 89 years. Here are just a few: food is a love language (no one who sunk their teeth into her warm homemade bread slathered in butter and homemade jam or ate one of her cinnamon rolls or had a slice of her currant pie would doubt she loved them), if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing beautifully, and when life is hard, serve others. Spend as much time as you can in the garden, take good care of the birds (Don said they often ate better than he did), and there are few problems not made better by a good nap or a big bowl of ice cream. She took bed-making seriously: ironed sheets and hospital corners were a must and, she’d argue, led to a better night’s sleep. You couldn’t leave the house without hearing “lock your doors and remember who you are.” We knew we were hers and we were loved. Holidays (especially Christmas) should be full of magic and never miss an opportunity to make life more fun. She could often be heard reminding her grandkids to look sharp and not stand out like a sore thumb—her lovely sense of style was unmatched. One of the most crucial lessons she taught us is that we can do hard things. She handled fortune and misfortune with the same grace, confidence, and decorum. (Strength and beauty are synonyms.) Even as dementia took her more and more from us, she never lost her beautiful smile or failed to thank others for the care they provided her.

We’re a little jealous of the reunion Louise is having in heaven with our father, Don, and brother, Sheldon—as well as her parents, nine siblings, and countless close friends and family. We can almost hear the stories and laughter from here. She leaves behind her husband, Wayne, her five remaining children, Don Jr. (Pam), Mitch, Tyde, (Linda) Sterling (Brenda), Rachel (Matt), and Sheldon’s wife, Liliane, as well as 22 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and her sister, Jo Ellen Martin. In lieu of flowers, Louise would love for you to plant some of your own, feed the birds, or fix yourself a heaping bowl of ice cream.

Funeral Service:

Saturday, March 9^th at 11:00am

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

601 Susan Ave.

Gallup, NM 87301

Memorial Service:

Saturday, March 30^th at 11:00am

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

3572 E Guadalupe Rd

Gilbert, AZ 85234

Arrangements by Bunker’s Garden Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.