Barbara A. Prather, age 80, of Louisville, Illinois, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, November 28, 2024, surrounded by her family.

      She was born on June 10, 1944, in Flora.  Barbara married Ron Prather, the love of her life, on July 25, 1986, in Clarksville, Tennessee.  They were blessed to have celebrated 38 anniversaries.  Together, Barbara and Ron ran Ron’s Auto Sales and raised four beautiful children and a granddaughter.  From working in the body shop, traveling, yard work, or shopping, you never saw one without the other too far behind.  They truly did everything together.

      Barbara was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in February 2023.  She was given a short time, but with her wonderful doctor, treatments, and her faith in God, and the help of her family, church family, and friends she made it further than expected.  She was a fighter up to the end, being so strong and brave while facing her fate.  She taught many of us just what that meant. 

      Barbara was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, and she appreciated the many simple joys that came with spending time with her family and many dear friends.  She loved traveling to Florida, going to Casinos, mushroom hunting, thrift shopping, camping, pontooning with friends, cooking for her family, and finding a bargain at flea markets.  She loved taking something broken & bringing it home and making it useful and beautiful.  She was also known for her red velvet cakes, which would always cause arguments as to who would get the last piece or who could take a “to go” slice.  She taught several generations how to make her famous rock candy every Christmas.  She also loved hosting her brother & sister’s birthday celebrations each year, as well as Ron’s family get togethers.  One of her proudest accomplishments is that she and Ron were able to bring two families together and make them one beautiful, loving family.  Barbara was blessed to have three mothers in her life, her birth mother, her mother Dorothy McGrew (who took her in at 8 months of age and raised her as her own), and her bonus mom, Dorothy Engelmeier.  She was a member of the First Church of Flora, Flora American Legion, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association and the Flora Moose Lodge.  She worked many years along with her daughters for the Crop 4 A Cure, raising funds for local cancer patients.

      She is survived by her husband, Ron Prather of Louisville; daughters, Lisa (John) Haycock of Flora and Madonna Stumpf of Urbana; son, Wade (Holly) Prather of Clay City; sister, Carla (Stan) Stanford of Flora; brothers, Ronnie (Barb) McGrew and Danny (Kit) McGrew, both of Xenia, Charlie (Debbie) McGrew of Arcola, and Danny Wyatt of Momence; 8 grandchildren, Jordan (Kristin) Haycock of Madison, Alabama, Katelyn Phillips of Flora, Sheldon (Irene) Stumpf of Farmer City, Colton Stumpf of Champaign, Makenna Stumpf of Columbia, Missouri, Marissa Daws of White Hall, and Shandon and Haydon Prather, both of Flora; 5 great-grandchildren, Noah, Addison, & Micah Haycock, and Parker & Gracie Phillips; brothers-in-law, Jim (Tanya) Prather of Flora, Gary (Karen) Prather of Mt Carmel; sisters-in-law, Betty (Dale) Whitney of Salem and Laverne Kruger of Braidwood; and many special nieces and nephews. 

      She was preceded in death by parents, H.E. & Dorothy McGrew; birth mother, Lyndall Wyatt; bonus mom, Dorothy Engelmeier; daughter, Jodi Daws; brother, Ricky McGrew; sister, Phyllis McGrew; grandparents, Cecil & Belle Watson; son-in-law, Trent Daws; mother & father-in-law, Ralph & Cleo Prather; sisters-in-law, Delores Lewis & Radell Gillespie; brothers-in-law, John Lewis & Dean Prather; and a niece and nephew, Sheila Henson and Joseph Lohman.

      The funeral ceremony for Barbara Prather will be held at 12 noon Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at Frank & Bright Funeral Home in Flora, with Jim Earleywine officiating.  Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Wednesday at the funeral home.  Private interment will take place later at Elmwood Cemetery in Flora.  Memorials are suggested to the family to help with expenses.  To share a condolence or memory, visit: www.frankandbright.com