Vera C. Pratt died peacefully at the Casey Rehab and Nursing home at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. She died one-day before her 105th birthday.

She was born October 8, 1921, the first daughter to William and Cora (Wilson) Carpenter. Vera graduated from Charleston High School in 1939 and attended one quarter at Eastern Illinois State Teachers College. She could not continue because the family could not afford the nineteen-dollar tuition.

April 10, 1942, she married Orville “Dock” Brinkley who died January 21, 1967; in June of 1967, she married Earl Pratt in Paris, Illinois where General Telephone had transferred her as a long-distance operator. Earl died in November 1999.

Vera was preceded in death by her parents, both husbands, Bill and Iris Carpenter, Irma and Vernon Rice, Mary and Frank Hodges, Pud Clayton, Martha and Bill Bennett, Reba and Jim Herman, Don Lenhart, Leroy Lashbrook, and two infant brothers who died at birth.

She was also preceded in death by niece Carole Rice and great-niece Jann Conley.

She is survived by Elizabeth and Steve Redman, and Charles Carpenter.

She is also survived by 18 nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great nephews.

Vera lived in Mattoon, Tuscola, Paris and Waukegan throughout her life. During the 38 years she lived in Paris she served as the Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, and president of the Business and Professional Women. She was also a member of a local sewing group.

During her life she also made a quilt for each of her siblings.

Vera was a member of the Paris First Christian Church and sang in the choir until she moved in 2005.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 9, 2026 at Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home, 303 East Wood Street Paris, IL. The funeral will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Charleston Bible Church with visitation preceding the services from 10 a.m. until service time, Pastor Brad Bennington will officiate. Burial will follow in Mound Cemetery in Charleston, Illinois.  Stewart & Carroll Funeral Home in Paris, Illinois are handling the arrangements.

For more information and online condolences please visit www.stewartandcarrollfuneralhome.com