Ronald Ray Prather, 83, of Fuquay-Varina, NC went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Dec. 1, 2024. Ronald was born on Jan. 5,1941 in Kemper, IL to Lester Freeman Prather and Ella Marie (Scott) Prather. Ronald married Barbara Jane (Knight) Prather on June 21,1963 and they were married for over 60 years.

Ronald was an employee of McDonnell Douglas and the Boeing Company in St. Louis, MO for 36 years where he held various roles in maintenance, production and planning until his retirement in 1996. He was an avid golfer and loved to hunt and fish when he had the opportunity. Ronald liked to travel and spent many winters in Florida where he and Barbara enjoyed time with friends, walking on the beach, shelling and bird watching.

Ronald was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, his parents and his brothers & sisters: Pete Prather and his wife Ruth (Cox) Prather, Kerry Prather and his wife Kay (Shanks) Prather, Doris Warner-Lanham and her husband Bill Lanham, Bertha Eileen Bennett and her husband Melvin Bennett, Dale Prather and Richard Knight.

Ronald leaves behind his daughter Melissa (Prather) Koenig, her husband Dale Koenig and 4 grandchildren: Katelyn Bachman, Emily Koenig-Terneus and her husband Matt, Trevor Koenig and his wife Erica and Spencer Koenig and his wife Caroline as well as sister-in-laws Iola Prather, Frances Knight and many nieces & nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at Anderson Family Funeral Home in Brighton, IL on Saturday February 15, 2024. Visitation will be from 9am-10am with Memorial Service following at the funeral home. Per Ronald’s wishes, cremation rights have been accorded and interment will be at the Medora Cemetery in Medora, IL. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Center Grove Presbyterian Church in Edwardsville, IL or to the American Heart Association.