He was born August 5, 1942, in Oldham County to the late Charlie and Ethel Prather.
Pete graduated from Oldham County High School in 1960. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1964, and he was assigned to the USS Borie (DD-704) in December 1961. While on the Borie, Pete served on the blockade during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Following his time in the Navy, Pete returned to Oldham County and began working as an electrician for the L&N/CSX Railroad, where he worked for 38 years. Pete was a member and elder of Buckner Christian Church. He was a lifelong fan of the UK Wildcats and the Cincinnati Reds and enjoyed coaching North Oldham Little League baseball and Babe Ruth. He loved traveling, antiquing, and collecting railroad memorabilia.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Leah Prather; brothers George and Edwin Prather; and sisters Edna Prather, Lottie Mae Ritchie and Sue Jackson.
Survivors include Pete's wife, Mary Ann; two sons, Brooks Prather (April) of New Castle and Joe Hessami (Michelle) of Lexington; one daughter, Jeanne Hartman (Chas) of Lexington; two grandsons, Blake and Nolan Prather of New Castle; three granddaughters, Kristin Lamb (Will Niehaus) of Indiana, Emily Miller (Reece) of Lexington; and Isabella Hartman of Lexington; one great-grandson, Ash Miller of Lexington; a special mother-in-law Myra K. Schureck of LaGrange; brothers Charles Prather, Jr., Ray Prather (Treva), Turk Prather (Janet), Sam Prather (Donna), and George Ritchie (Donna); and sisters Doris Abell, Margaret Potts (Gary), Theresa Lackmann (Bob) and Linda Clark (David).
A graveside service will be conducted at 1 PM on Monday, December, 28, 2020, at Valley of Rest Cemetery in LaGrange, KY. Heady-Radcliffe Funeral Home will be in charge of services.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Highpoint in Lagrange, KY, The Beacon House in Louisville, KY or to the Charlie Prather Scholarship fund.
