Lloyd Roland Pratz

1928 - 2008

Lloyd Roland Pratz, 79, longtime Deming resident passed away in Las Cruces on Thursday March 27th, 2008.
Visitation will be Monday March 31st, 2008 from 6:30 to 8 pm at Baca's Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be Tuesday April 1st, 2008 at 10 o'clock in the morning at the First Baptist Church with Reverend Kenneth Stohner officiating. Concluding services and interment will follow at Mt. View Cemetery.

Lloyd was born April 13, 1928 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to George and Beatrice (McDonald) Pratz. He served in WWII and the Korean Conflict and while he was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas he met and married Ruth Wilcox. He moved to Deming in 1949 and took an active part in the community serving as president of numerous clubs, served Deming as our Mayor for 12 years, from 1974 to 1986, and was Citizen of the Year in 1985. Pratz is a member of the First Baptist Church, Deming Masonic Lodge #12, and the Shrine Club of Deming.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Ruth (Wilcox) Pratz of Deming; son Gary Lloyd Pratz and wife Nina of Albuquerque, son Rodney G. Pratz and wife Eva Grace of Deming, daughter Beverly Diane Pratz of Deming; grandsons, Bryan Pratz of Tulsa, OK, Kyle Pratz and wife Tracey of Las Cruces, Jordan and Jason Pratz of Albuquerque; brother Paul Pratz and wife Pam of Lawton, OK, and numerous nieces and nephews. Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents, George and Beatrice Pratz, siblings Barbara, Clyde, Charles, and Robert Pratz.
Serving as pallbearers will be Gary Pratz, Rodney Pratz, Bryan Pratz, Kyle Pratz, Jordan Pratz, and Jason Pratz. Honorary bearers are Dan Upton, Bob Beckett, Manny Ruiz, Manny Alvarez, Nelda Shiflett, and Melbourn Fewell.
In lieu of flowers family requests memorial contributions be made to the New Mexico Baptist Children's Home, P.O. Box 629, Portales, NM 88130 or to the Deming Shrine Club, P.O. Box 387, Deming, NM 80031.