Dorothy Baucum Pratt

Dorothy Lena Ehlers Baucum Pratt
Dorothy Baucum Pratt, 95, died Tuesday, March 24, 2020, in Hiawassee, Georgia.
Born December 9, 1924, in Tipton, Kansas to John C. Ehlers and Gertrude Marie Fueser Ehlers. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers William (Bill) Ehlers, Henry (Hank) Ehlers and Lawrence (Larry) Ehlers;sisters Isabell Emma Zemke and Marie Elizabeth Bates.

After graduating from Cawker City High School, Kansas in 1943, Dorothy moved to Wichita, Kansas and was hired by Boeing Military Airplane Company as a trainee and sent directly to the School of Engineering and Architecture at University of Kansas, Lawrence. After completing a course in aeronautical technician training, she spent over 34 years working in various departments including aerodynamics, flight testing, B-52, and several top-secret projects which she described as "black hole projects." Dorothy retired from Boeing in 1984.

Continuing to live in Wichita, Dorothy was very involved at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church. She also enjoyed gardening and loved crossword puzzles as well as traveling. Her travels took her as far as England to visit her grandson, Lance, who was stationed there with the USAF, and to Canada, Hawaii, the Seattle World's Fair, the Rose Parade, Yellowstone, Black Hills, the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, Colorado, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. While traveling, Dorothy assembled a massive collection of souvenir spoons.

Dorothy had said that as long as she had siblings in Kansas, she would stay in Wichita. When her last sibling died in 2007, Dorothy moved to Texas to be near her son and his family. In 2014, she moved for the last time when her son moved to N.C. and she settled in Hiawassee, GA.

She is survived by her son, James Baucum (Vicki) of Franklin, NC; grandson, Lance Baucum (Jessica) of Franklin, NC; granddaughter, Jennifer Fulton (Danny) of Lavon, TX; great granddaughter, Brittani Baucum of Sammamish, WA; great grandson, Connor Baucum and great granddaughter, Grace Baucum both of Pensacola, FL; great grandson, Caleb Fulton
of Lavon, TX; a large number of nieces and nephews living all over the United States; and not to be forgotten, Mister Jake, grand-dog. He loved her dearly and visited her at the nursing home faithfully the past two years. It was said by Dorothy's great granddaughter, Brittani, upon learning of her passing, "No one will ever be as stubborn and strong as
Granma Dot was …. until I'm a great grandma and can be as stubborn and strong in her memory."

A memorial service will be held in Cawker City, KS at a date to be determined. Dorothy will finally return home to her beloved Kansas.

Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee is honored to be serving the family of Dorothy Pratt. Please share your condolences and sign the online guest registry online at cochranfuneralhomes.com.