Elaine Joann Pratt

Elaine Joann Pratt passed away in Laguna Hills, CA, after battling kidney failure.

Elaine was born in Long Beach, CA to Ann and Isadore Schimsky. She grew up in

Long Beach and later Westminster, CA, where she completed her high school education

and shortly thereafter married her high school sweetheart, Barry Rossman. She gave

birth to her first son, Allan, in 1965, and divorced Barry in the early 70’s. During these

early years, Elaine completed coursework at Golden West College and Long Beach City

College.

As a single mother, Elaine made ends meet as a hostess for a local restaurant while

renting a house in Lakewood, CA, owned by her brother Arnold. Elaine met her future

husband, John Pratt, in 1972 while visiting a friend in Cypress, CA. Shortly after being

injured in a motorcycle accident in mid-1973, John and Elaine married, with Elaine on

crutches and in a full leg cast. Elaine later gave birth to their son, Andre, in late 1974.

John and Elaine purchased the Lakewood home from her brother and eventually sold it

to move to Rancho Cucamonga, where Elaine gave birth to their daughter Allison, and

where they lived for several years. In the early 90s, Elaine and John moved to Laguna

Niguel, CA.

John’s career involved quite a lot of domestic and international travel, and Elaine en-

joyed accompanying him whenever possible. Over the following decades, Elaine was

able to travel several times all over Europe, China, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Hawaii,

Mexico, and Canada. Elaine and John also enjoyed motor homing through the western

United States in their own or a rented motor home. She also enjoyed weekend road

trips in the family car with her husband, John.

The 1972 motorcycle accident eventually caught up with Elaine in 2023, resulting in

three more left knee surgeries, a fall with broken ribs, pressure ulcer, gall bladder in-

fection and eventually kidney failure. In spite of her physical setbacks, Elaine was al-

ways kind and thoughtful, with a great sense of humor. Always smiling. Elaine per-

fectly fit the definition of a first-class lady.

Elaine is remembered by her sons, Allan and Andre Pratt; her daughter, Allison May-

nard; her son-in-law, Daniel Maynard; her grandson, Parker Maynard; and her husband,

John Pratt—additionally, her nephew, Jeffrey Schimsky, and her niece, Jennifer Arussi.

Elaine was preceded in death by her brother, Arnold Schimsky, and her parents,

Isadore and Ann.

Elaine was a loving and caring mother to her children. She was always very protective

and encouraging, and a source of comfort 24/7.

Rest in Peace, ‘Laine