Elizabeth Prater

Elizabeth "Liz" Prater, age 79, resident of  Shelby passed away Saturday March 18, 2017 in Crestwood Care Center. Born January 8, 1938 in Harlan County, KY to Joseph E. and Nora (Muncy) Osborne, she had been a Mt. Gilead resident for many years moving to Shelby in 1997.  A 1955 graduate of Pentecostal Bible School in St. Louis, MO, she worked at Arundale Plastics in Mt. Gilead, retiring in 1991 as an inspector. On June 5, 1971 Liz became a member of the First Freewill Baptist Church in Shelby where she holds the honor of being the church's longest standing member.  She had also taught Sunday school and was a song leader for twenty years. She was a voracious reader and enjoyed crocheting. 

Surviving are her children, Deborah Adkins of Shelby, David Prater of Mt. Gilead, Lonnie (Susie) Prater of Cardington and Laura (Randy) Shepherd of Shiloh; eight grandchildren; sixteen  great-grandchildren; one brother, Tracy (Lois) Osborne of Galion; two sisters, Margaret (Jimmy) Howard of Shelby and Joetta Levering of Marion, sister-in-law Bonnie Osborne of New Carlisle,  nieces, nephews and other relatives. 

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Grady L. Prater in 2015, one brother, Edward Osborne in 2007 and son-in-law Scott Adkins in 2015. 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Thursday March 23, 2017 from the First Freewill Baptist Church in Shelby.  Pastors Matthew Pond and Travis McKenzie will officiate with interment  in Franklin Church Cemetery. Friends may call at the Barkdull Funeral Home and Crematory in Shelby Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Freewill Baptist Church Radio Ministry. 

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