Maria Lita (Yambos) Pratt

Maria Lita (Yambos) Pratt passed away in Portland on May 12, 2024, after a courageous battle with mantle cell lymphoma.

Lita was born in Portland, Oregon on June 16, 1951. She was the daughter of Argy and Phyllis Yambos, who had emigrated to the United States from Greece in the late 1930’s and late 1940’s, respectively. She attended Laurelhurst Elementary School and Washington High School, where she excelled in music.

Her musicianship earned her a scholarship to Pacific University in Forest Grove, where she studied performance piano and music education, receiving her BME in 1974.

After graduation, she began working as a classroom music teacher in Sheridan, Oregon. Sadly, that career was soon interrupted by a debilitating illness that left her unable to work full-time, although she was able to give private piano lessons for several years.

In 1989 Lita married Jeffrey C. Pratt, who had been a classmate and friend at Pacific School of Music, and moved to forested property upriver from Carver.

She was an exceptional cook, who particularly enjoyed gifting the world’s best baklava to fortunate relatives, friends, and neighbors.

Lita was a member of Clackamas United Church of Christ, where she enthusiastically participated, as her health allowed, as pianist and choir member; and was especially active in online Bible study and prayer circle, as well as the church’s online community, where she was a welcoming and supportive friend to many.

Lita was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 35 years, Jeffrey C. Pratt of Damascus, her brother Orestes Yambouranis and his wife Dana of Buderim, Australia, and her niece Sophia Ana of Melbourne, Australia. 
She is also survived by Jeff’s sister Susan Robinson, of Sacramento, California, and several generations of nephews and nieces, also in California.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Clackamas United Church of Christ, 15303 SE Webster Road, Milwaukie, OR 97267, on Saturday May 25th at 11 AM.

To honor her memory, and in lieu of flowers, the family invites you to consider a donation to the Clackamas United Church of Christ, the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ, or to the Pacific University School of Music.

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