Grady L. Prater, age 76, resident of Shelby died Friday, March 13, 2015 in Mansfield Memorial Homes following a brief illness.
Born April 7, 1938 in White County, Tennessee, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, William and Rissie Mae (Cunningham) Prater. Grady lived for many years in Mt. Gilead before moving to Shelby in 1997. He served on the Morrow County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Unit for many years and was a Park Ranger for Clear Fork Reservoir retiring in 1997.
Active in his church, Grady was a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church and attended the Elm Street Freewill Baptist Church. He enjoyed going to auctions and flea markets and cherished the time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Surviving are his wife, Elizabeth “Liz” Prater, whom he married September 1, 1956; their children, Deborah (Scott) Adkins of Shelby, David Prater of Mt. Gilead, Lonnie (Susie) Prater of Mt. Gilead and Laura “Neicy” (Randy) Shepherd of Shiloh; eight grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three half-brothers, Lloyd (Donna) Rankhorn of Mt. Gilead, James “Howard” (Maryanne) Rankhorn of Tennessee and Landus Rankhorn of Michigan; nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, his mother and step-father, Anna Lee (Prater) and Orvallee Rankhorn, and infant great-granddaughter, Lilly Grace Spencer.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at the Elm Street Freewill Baptist Church in Shelby. Reverend Doug Tackett will officiate with interment in Franklin Cemetery, Mansfield. Friends may call at the Barkdull Funeral Home in Shelby on Monday from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the MedCentral Hospice, 335 Glessner Ave., Mansfield, OH 44903.
Online condolences may be made at www.barkdullfuneralhome.com
