Bill Prather April 01, 1942 – March 23, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card| Memorial Donation Bill Prather, age 76, of Iberia, passed away on Saturday, March 23, 2019, at his home. He was born in Kansas City on April 1, 1942, son of the late Lee and Florence (Becker) Prather. On July 14, 2001, in Crocker, Bill married Connie Smith, who survives at their home.
Bill moved to Iberia in fifth grade and was enrolled in Iberia R-V. He played baseball and basketball for the Iberia Rangers all four years of high school and graduated in 1960. In his early days, Bill worked for the Rock Island Rail Road in Chicago, Illinois from 1960 to 1962, eventually moving back to Iberia where he worked for Stevinson Funeral Home for four years and later started Prather Insurance Company serving the local areas.
Bill received numerous trips, plaques, and awards for his accomplishments throughout his insurance career. He was an active member of the community and a member of various organizations including, Lake Ozark Shriners, Abou Ben Adem Shrine Club since 1975, life-time member of Elk Lodge Lake Ozark, Miller County Historical Society, served 20 years on as a City Council Charter member, charter member and past president of the Iberia Lions Club and was a member and past Master of the Iberia Masonic Lodge 410 for over 50 years and received the honor of being initiated into the 33 Degree Scottish Rite on September 8, 2007. He was a true Brother in every sense of the word.
Missouri Masonry will not be the same without Bill. His legacy will live on through his mentorship to all the Brethren he influenced through his work. He was president of various organizations including the Lake Ozark Council during the signing of the Lee C. Fine Airport and was also president of the I.I.D Corporation which had and influential role in bringing L.B. Manufacturing to Iberia.
He also had a significant part in attaining Iberia’s first fire engine, water tower, and sewer system. Bill was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting turkey, elk, pheasants, frogs and ducks. He loved to tell stories about his hunting trips.
In addition to his wife, Connie Prather, he is also survived by two daughters, Donna Underwood and husband Michael of Leeton and Carrie Fritchey and husband Larry of Iberia; one step-daughter, Claudia Herd and husband Paul of Crocker; one stepson, Leonard Wilson of Iberia; brother, Richard “Buck” Prather; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Ann Wehramann and Martha Denton and one brother, Michael Prather. Service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 27, at Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia with Pastor Roy Gilkey officiating.
Interment will be in Iberia Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., with a Masonic and Scottish Rite service at 7 p.m., on Tuesday, March 26, at Fancher-Rekus Funeral Home in Iberia. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions are suggested to the Miller County Historical Society.
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