Services for Douglas Prather, 77, of rural Russell, will be held Monday,
July 12, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in
Chariton. A luncheon will be held at the Williamson Community Center
following the service.
Family will receive friends on Sunday, July 11, from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton.
The service may be viewed at: https://my.gather.app/remember/douglas-prather
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Doug's memory to be used for a scholarship of the family's choosing.
Douglas Franklin Prather was born July 24, 1943 at the Yocom
Hospital in Chariton to John and Bessie Prather, the youngest of 5
children, he was welcomed home by siblings: Jack, Bob, Mary, and Evelyn.
He grew up in the Russell area, Cedar Township and went to the Brown
Country School and graduated from Russell High School in 1962.
Doug met a girl at the A&W stand and on June 12, 1966, he was
married to Marcia Oden, they were blessed with three daughters: Kathy,
Karen, and Kelly.
Marcia and the girls describe Doug as a loving husband and father.
He was a great provider to their family. Doug was a strong and
hardworking man, with a big heart. He loved spending time with his
girls whether it was going on picnics, playing board games, roller
skating, or swimming with them. He would often bring home baby rabbits
found while doing dirt work for the girls. He was blessed with a
granddaughter, Mickayla. They have a special bond as they spent as much
time together as they could with going for tractor or dozer rides, pony
rides, or building toys for her.
Over the 55 years married to the love of his life, Doug and Marcia
were rarely apart; enjoying family, occasional trips, dancing, and
working on the farm together. He always made sure the family’s needs
were met.
Those who know him outside of his family, know that he is a man of
many talents. He could make anything mechanical work, which came in
handy on the farm and running heavy equipment. He was also an
exceptionally talented wood worker, building all kinds of furniture
including bedroom suites, dining tables, cabinets, and many other
pieces. The only thing about his furniture was that it needed to be
perfect, everything had to be squared. He enjoyed the outdoors often
going hunting and fishing, and had a great talent for drawing wildlife,
deer was his specialty. Everyone knew he loved to tell a joke or story.
He had a great sense of humor and loved being around people, he never
knew a stranger. After retiring he looked forward to going to have a cup
of coffee with his friends.
He worked with his brothers Jack and Bob with Prather Brothers
Construction for over 30 years, an earth moving company working in Lucas
and Monroe counties and over southern Iowa. He continued running heavy
machinery on his own building many ponds and conservation projects. Doug
also worked for the Lucas County Secondary Roads Department running a
road grader for nearly 20 years. He and Marcia continued to farm while
he was working and through out their retirement. They both especially
enjoyed raising cattle on their home farm east of Chariton.
Doug will be greatly missed by his wife of 55 years, Marcia;
daughters: Kathy (Mike) McCarty, Karen (Wayne) Menster, and Kelly
Prather; granddaughter, Mickayla McCarty; and siblings: Robert Prather
and Mary Brown; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, relatives and
friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Bessie; brother, Jack Prather; and sister, Evelyn Kent.
