Ray Dean Prather

Ray Dean Prather was born on October 29, 1937 in Stratford, Oklahoma to John Thomas Prather and Bertha Mae (Jones) Prather. He passed away on Monday, January 4, 2021 in Ardmore, Oklahoma at the age of 83 years.

Ray was a lifelong resident of Garvin County. He grew up and attended school in Stratford, Oklahoma. He retired as a Master Sergeant from the U. S. Army after 22 years of serving his country. Ray married Ida Lou Roberts on January 2, 1958 in Maysville and they celebrated 51 years of marriage before her passing in 2009. He loved his family and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren who called him Pa. He lived in Paoli before moving to the Veterans Center in Ardmore 6 years ago. Ray served on the residence council at the VA. He was known and loved by all who knew him there and felt the need to check on everyone daily. He was a true gentleman. Ray enjoyed collecting military baseball hats of the Vietnam campaigns he served in and also was a collector of knives. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his son, Bobby Prather of Maysville; and daughters, Lavonda Prather of Maysville, Deana Prather and Marc Davis of Paoli.
Grandchildren: Matthew Don Smith, Sara Bennett, Joshua Prather and his fiancée Kylie Bailey.
Great grandchildren: Mason Bennett, Madison Bennett, Maddaux Bennett, Macie Bennett, Piper Prather, William Bailey Prather, Kateri Prather, and Andrew Prather.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ida Lou Prather; sisters, Evogene Prather and Imogene Stufflebean, and brother, Charles Prather, James Prather, Raymond Prather, Terry Prather, and Benny Rex Prather. .

Masks and social distancing will be in place at the cemetery.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, January 9, 2021 at the Maysville Cemetery with burial under the direction of John W. Williams of Winans Funeral Home, Maysville, OK. Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.winansfuneralhome.com