DR. PRATT IRBY

Dr. Pratt Irby, age 97, a resident of Fort Scott died on Friday, July 23, 2010 at Fort Scott Manor.

He was born May 3, 1913 in Holly Springs, Miss., the son of Pleasant Eugene and Lenora McMullen Irby.

He was a 1934 graduate of the University of Mississippi and a 1936 graduate of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

He married Pauline Robinson on Dec. 8, 1938 at Tonkawa, Okla.

Pratt and Pauline moved from 124 S. Crawford to Presbyterian Village when it opened in 1994. Pauline preceded him in death on March 9, 2000.

Pratt began his medical career in Bowie, Texas.There he practiced with his older brother, Dr. A.C. Irby. While visiting in Bowie, Dr. Claude F. Young invited the two brothers to come to Fort Scott to join the Newman Young Clinic in 1940.

Pratt served in the United States Army during WWII and was stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines for three years and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service.

Following the end of WWII, Pratt completed a urology residency at the University of Tennessee in Memphis, Tenn. He then returned to Fort Scott and practiced as a urologist until his retirement in 1984.

Pratt was also known as an avid trumpet player. He played with dance bands during the 1930's and for many years with the Fort Scott Community Orchestra.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church; American Medical Association; American Urological Association; Fort Scott Rotary Club; and Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post No. 1165 V.F.W.

Survivors include one son: Robert Irby and his wife Marcy, of Faribault, Minn.; two daughters: Mary Rio of Austin, Texas and Janet Braun of Fort Scott; four grandchildren: Becky Hulla and her husband Pat, Ted Braun and his wife Karen, Mac Braun and his wife Jodi, and Jessica Rio; and 10 great-grandchildren: Brendan, Katie, Kellen, and Ryan Hulla; Rachel and Allie Braun, Emily and Nick Braun; and Paulina and Sofia Espinosa de los Monteros.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his four brothers and three sisters; and his wife of 61 years, Pauline.

The Reverend Paul Babcock will conduct funeral services at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, July 30, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church.

Burial will be in the First National Cemetery under the direction of the Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home with Military Honors conducted by the Olson-Frary-Burkhart Post No. 1165, Veterans of Foreign Wars Memorial Detail.

The family will receive friends prior to the services on Friday, July 30 at the First United Methodist Church from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Memorials are suggested to the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation and can be sent to Konantz-Cheney Funeral Home, 15 W. Wall Street, P.O. Box 309, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701.