Lula Pearl Pratt Welborn

Lula Pearl Pratt Welborn, 85, of Nevada, passed away on Feb. 6, 2009. She was born on Dec. 19, 1923, to Frank Wesley and Ollie Francis (Ford) Pratt of Ellington, Mo., and she was the youngest child and only daughter in a family of five children. Mrs. Welborn was reared by her paternal uncle and his wife, Fred and Bess Pratt, of Marshall, Mo.

She graduated from Missouri Valley College in 1945 where she met her husband, Joseph Eugene "Gene" Welborn, of Nevada. They married in 1947 and lived in Bartlesville, Okla., where they worked for Phillips Petroleum Company. In 1950 they started to build their home on a farm near Ellis, southwest of Nevada.

On the day her sixth and last child started to school, Mrs. Welborn became the business teacher at Bronaugh High School. A large number of her students returned to visit after graduation and she always took great pride in their many accomplishments. Several students became lifelong friends and she always spoke affectionately, hopefully and forgivingly about the rest.

Mrs. Welborn also worked in the business offices of Tuf-Nut and Keys, and she worked as a medical secretary at the Nevada State Hospital.

Her family remembers her as a sweet woman who loved to read, watch birds in her backyard, and attend family gatherings. Her big family was a special joy to her and she particularly enjoyed traveling to visit them in the far reaches of the United States and Europe. Throughout her life, she loved driving trips and always took great pleasure in traveling through Missouri.

Mrs. Welborn was a lifetime member of the Methodist Church, and in her youth she was involved in several church orchestras and choirs. This year she would have received her 50th anniversary as a member of Eastern Star. Also, for more than 50 years, she enjoyed her membership in the Ellis Domestic Club.

Her husband, Gene Welborn; granddaughter, Amy Welborn; and brothers Hues, Luke, Ed and Henry preceded her in death.

She is survived by her children Joe (and Elaine) Welborn of Stockton, Llewellyn (and Leo) Lutchansky, of Juneau, Alaska, Jim Welborn, of Arlington, Texas, Mark (and Traci) Welborn, of Salt Lake City, Utah, Matthew Welborn of Nevada, Laurie (and Kevin) Woolfolk, of Saratoga, Wyo.; 14 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Ruth Pratt, of Marshall, and Doris Pratt, of Farmington, and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, Feb. 27, at 11 a.m., at the Welborn Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to gather at the Welborn family farm following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Welborn Cemetery Association, H. Wilson, Rt. 1, Box 86, Nevada, MO 64772, or a public library of choice.