Derrell Eugene Pratt

Derrell Eugene Pratt, 69, passed away on September 09, 2024, at his mother’s home in Kansas City, Missouri.  He was born on January 01, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri to Preston Johnson and Diane J. Revels.

He grew up in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri.  He graduated from Raytown South High School in Raytown, Missouri. Being one of the first blacks and star athlete to play basketball, football and run track at Raytown South High. His track record is still undefeated in track and basketball. After high school he attended Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota on a basketball scholarship. He was up for the NBA draft twice.

After college, he came back home to Kansas City, Missouri and he began work for Steve Shoes as a shoe salesman where he worked for 3 years. He also worked at Metropolitan Maintenance (Supervisor), Hammer Bros (Machine Operator), Staffing Connections – John Knox Village (Floor Technician), Red X Groceries (Stocker Forklift), Labor Pros and SOS Staffing (Warehouse, Janitorial and Shipping/Receiving), Kansas City Belt and Rubber (Delivery Driver, Assembly and Warehouse and Merry X-Ray (Delivery Driver and Chemical Batcher).

He was involved in basketball, football and track. His number one and only football team is the Kansas City Chiefs, a true die-heart when it comes to them.  Rather they were losing or winning, his love for them never changed. He was very musically inclined. He learned to play by ear, the bass guitar, drums, keyboard and saxophone. He played all instruments with proficiency. During his many adventures in life, he was invited to play with the music artists, Roger and Zapp. He loved playing dominoes (bones as he called them) and cards (Spades). He also loved dancing (two-stepping), singing and barbeques. A true life of the party.

He would always let you know his initials and zodiac sign, “I’m DEP, straight Capricorn baby!” Of course he had many sayings. He had a nickname for his daughter LaVena (Nickie) called “motor-booty” because she could never sit still. One person he always stuck up for and protected was his baby brother, Sean (Pink Lips) Revels. His grandparents, Brincie and Eula Johns called him, “Buddy,” growing up.

He was loved by so many and will definitely be missed.

He was preceded into death by his grandparents, Brincie and Eula Johns, his father Preston Johnson and his sister Regina Perkins Downs.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his mother, Diane Johns Revels, his children, LaVena Nicole King (Devontae) Kansas City, Missouri and Florese Marie Nelson (Jamil) Kansas City, Missouri, his brothers, Robert Pratt III (Tonia) Kansas City, Missouri, Michael Pratt, Kansas City, Missouri, Sean Revels, Atlanta, Georgia, Steven Harris, Kansas City, Kansas, Terry Johnson (Sandra), Kansas City, Kansas, his sisters, Leslie Harris, Kansas City, Kansas and Deborah Harris (Damon), Kansas City, Kansas, his grandchildren, Quai Walker, Kenya Walker, DeyShaun Pratt, Massyh McCastle, Tonnie McCastle, Destinee Sherman, DaKota Byers-Pratt, Hamyla Sherman, Roman Sherman, Vanity Byers-Pratt, Harmony Byers-Pratt, Karter Nelson, Loyalty King, and a host of other relatives and friends.