Shirley A. Prather

Shirley Ann Prather was born in Concordia, KS, to Lowell Daniel and Mildred Viola (Sprague) Johnson, on November 26, 1941.  She passed away and went to meet her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at the Residential Care Center in the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems, in Beloit, KS, at 76 years of age.

Shirley was the fourth of the Johnson's five children.  The family moved during Shirley's childhood as her dad worked for the railroad.

Shirley attended grade school in Lawrence, NE, and graduated from Jamestown High School in 1962, in Jamestown, KS.  While in school, she enjoyed singing with the Glee Club and being a part of the Pep Club.   After graduation, Shirley moved to Salina and helped with her sister's children for a couple years.

Returning to Jamestown, Shirley worked as a caregiver of others in the community. During this time, she held special affection for Elizabeth Noller of Glen Elder, Gladys Hart of Randall, Josephine Stover of Beloit, and her own grandmother, Bessie Johnson.

On Nov. 16, 1966, she married Harold Prather.  They bought a farm near Randall, KS, and together, they farmed as a team, putting in the crops and caring for their cattle.  They always had a nice garden, so she put up the bounteous crops God blessed them with for the winter months.  She raised chickens, guineas, turkeys, and ducks, collected the eggs for personal use or to sell, and then dressed the poultry for meals and special occasions.  She was familiar with the butchering process, as this was also a part of the farm life.  She enjoyed keeping cats and dogs around, as they served as companions, as well as providing needed service around the place.  Two of her favorites included a family dog named Brownie, and a cat that was named Smokey.

Throughout her life, Shirley cared for nieces and nephews and the children of neighbors in her area.  She is deeply loved by nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

A diligent worker, Shirley took on house cleaning jobs and did housekeeping at the Waconda Motel in Beloit and worked for the Beloit Senior Center.

In her spare time, she enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, crocheting, and doing embroidery and cross-stitch work, and working with adult coloring.  She also enjoyed going to listen to Christian Gospel singing groups.

Active in the Presbyterian Church in Jamestown until it closed, she and Harold transferred their membership to the First Presbyterian Church in Beloit.  While in Beloit, Shirley served as the church custodian for several years and took pride in keeping the place neat and clean.

Shirley and Harold enjoyed taking bus tours and celebrating events and holidays with family.

Shirley and Harold celebrated their 50 ^th Wedding Anniversary in November 2016.

Shirley began her battle with brain cancer in February 2017, and entered the Residential Care Center at the Mitchell County Hospital Health Systems later that summer.  Shirley rejoiced in a remission that gave her special times with Harold and family.  At RCC she enjoyed activities and socializing with people she had known for several years and meet new friends as well.  RCC recognized Shirley as the Resident of the Month in July 2018.

Always a pleasant, positive influence on those around her, Shirley cared deeply for others and strove to make her world a better place to live.  Whether it was caring for children or elderly people, cleaning a house, or cleaning the Lord's house, she made it a practice to leave it better than she found it.

She was preceded in death by Her parents; a brother, Larry Gene Johnson; a sister, Norma Lee (Johnson) Flinn; and a nephew, Randy Flinn.

Shirley is survived by  her husband, Harold Prather, of Beloit; Her siblings, Harold "Butch" (Carmen)  Johnson, of Concordia, KS;  Marjorie Louise Sollers of Roanoke, TX; Her nieces and nephews,  Laura (Wes) Eure, Donna  (Mark) Frazier, Georgia Hardesty, Penny (Darrell) Tedwell,  Choya (Judy) Flinn, Brian Sollers, Skeet (Brooke) Johnson, Jay (Stacie) Johnson, Carl (Kay) Prather, Leon Prather , Julie Prather, Signe (Mark) Cook, Sonja (Terry) Petrik, Robert (Sirpa) Pearsall, Anne Marie (Doug) Cline, Karen (Bryan) Pearsall Cook, Laura Kraut, and a host of great nieces and nephews and other family members.

Funeral services will be at 2 PM Friday, October 19 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-8 PM Thursday, October 18 at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Rebecca A. Morrison House.