Joana Pratt

Joana L. Pratt, 76, left this side of life peacefully on Friday, June 4, 2010 at her ranch home North of Kim. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 8, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home. Graveside services will be Wednesday, June 9, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at Kim Cemetery with Pastor Greg Brown of the Kim Baptist Church officiating.
She was born July 8, 1933 to Charles “Chuck” & Dollie (Mitchell) Couchman near Patt, Colorado.
She had lived a life full of adventure and endeavors. Her love for horses lasted for over 70 years, her last horse passing away just a couple of months ago. Joana, also known as Nene, Grandma, Mom, Sis, Buffalo Nene, Aunt, and friend, had many talents. She was inspired by collecting Native American artifacts, barbed wire, bottles, rocks, painting great artwork with oils or watercolors, weaving, working with clay, leather craft, making clothing, genealogy, welding, photography; and other many creative interests.
Joana was blessed with her two children, Spike (Andrea) Burrows and Talana (Stan) Davis. Biggest part of Nene’s heart and love where her five grandchildren, Chandra (Mark) Handeland, Clayton Burrows, KynDee (Joel) Roberson, Cedar (Jared) Dowling, and Michelle (Mark) Peulen and her five great-grandchildren, Cameron and Mason Handeland, Cahil and Chisum Roberson, and Zachary Peulen; mother Dollie E. Mitchell Matteson provided her with strength and love that Joana shared with all those who knew her; sister, Marge (Kirby) Powell; brother-in-law, Harold Brooks; nephews and nieces, Trent (Tina) Brooks, Shawnee (Tim) Embrey, and Shae (Tory) Patnoe; great nephews and nieces, Matteson and Riley Embrey, Taya and Quentin Patnoe, Brianna Brooks and Ciara Brooks Ginter.
Joana was preceded in death by her father, Chuck Couchman, husband, Edgar Pratt, sister Janie Brooks, and a nephew, Rocky Kim Brooks.
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Eulogy

The Life and Times of Joana Pratt

She was born in a rock house about 2 miles north east of where her parents lived. The setting was a narrow spur of a canyon with cedar trees, snakes, and a round pen for breaking horses. Chuck and Dollie Couchman were the new parents, raising a daughter that loved horses and ranch life.

There were one room school houses scattered throughout the townships during the late 30’s, most of them were built by the WPA. Some of them still stand, Bunker Hill, Cedar Hill, and Long Ridge were three that Joana attended.

Joana Lee Couchman was headed home from one of these schools on her horse. The frozen pond looked inviting. The horse had been well trained by her dad. Joana decided to test his training by guiding the horse across the pond. Slipping and sliding she guided the poor horse across the ice toward the house. She made it without injury to the horse or herself, but she did have to deal the wrath of her dad who had seen the terril5iing stunt from a few hundred yards away. Joana loved horses. Her name came from the name of a race horse, Joana Lee. She owned horses her whole life.

She graduated from Kim in 1951, then headed to La Junta for some college courses. By June of 1952 she had married Doyle Burrows. They lived in a small white house near the Baca County line, close to Lewisville. In 1954 her son Spike was born. Soon after that she and Doyle headed toward Alaska. Money was tight, and jobs were good in Westfir, Oregon, so that is where they stayed until 1958 when they moved to Walsh, CO. Talana was born 1959. Her name was a native name that Joana liked, and it was different. During the summer of 1959 the Kim ranch house was built by Doyle. The house did not have an indoor bathroom at first, so the good ole outhouse was used. Baths were taken in a galvanized tub with water carried from the spring. A few trees and a buffalo grass lawn were started by carrying water as well.

Entertainment at night on the ranch was having neighborhood bonfires, cooking hotdogs, or playing cards and dominoes with the Yocums or Whittakers. Television was always poor, so board games helped keep the kids entertained. The family lived there until 1969 when Joana went to Bethune near Burlington, CO. She worked at the court house and a drug store in Burlington. She then moved into a trailer located on her sister’s property where she stayed until she married Edgar Pratt of Burlington. She and the kids moved into Edgar’s home. The home was an older home, small for even four people, so Joana built a two story addition to the home while Edgar farmed and raised cattle.

She started a nic-nac store the Rusty Rafter in Burlington to sell many of the crafts that she produced. While at Burlington she helped create the Native American section of the Old Town Museum. Joana raised cattle and hung wallpaper to earn more money to purchase 10 acres north of Burlington for her next building project. She kept up the Kim ranch and house the best that she could while still living in Burlington. She leased the pasture to local friends and maintained the house for weekend get-aways for the family.

But Edgar passed away, and the farm house became lonely. Joana decided that she missed the ranch country of her youth. She sold her home in Burlington and moved back to the small house at the ranch. She added on to the existing ranch home and finally had two bathrooms in her home. She had no intention of ever leaving this beautiful country, and proved to us all that she meant to stay. It is so hard to sum up a person’s life in a few words, but Joana demonstrated that hard work, determination, and loving what you do to exist in this life means everything. We will miss you, Joana Lee. Happy Trails.



In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Koshare Indian Museum, P.O. Box 580, La Junta, CO, 81050 or to the Burlinton Old Town Emporium, 415 15th Street, Burlington, CO, 80807 direct or through Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home.