Opal Maxine (Evans) Prather, age 86, of Gove, Kansas, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2020. She was born on January 7, 1934, to William and Velma Blanche (Walt) Evans in Gove at the family home, and then she lived there from 1956 until her passing.
Opal attended Wild Rose country school and graduated from Aurora high school, Aurora, Colorado and attended the Colorado Women’s College in Denver, Colorado. On June 8, 1952, she was united in marriage to Arnold Prather in Oak Hill, West Virginia, and they were together until his passing in 2013, having celebrated 61 years together. Opal was a loving wife and mother, raising 3 children. She was an active member of the Gove Community Bible Church, the Christian Women’s Fellowship and the Modern Homemakers club and enjoyed cooking, baking Parker House rolls and chocolate pies, reading, and watching the Hallmark Channel. She was one flight from attaining her private pilot’s license. She thoroughly enjoyed playing bridge with her friends and had a great love for ice cream.
Opal is survived by her sons William E. Prather (Kathy) and Jeffrey A. Prather (Linda) of Gove; daughter Tomaye Hipp (Randy Ladenburger) of Oakley, KS; grandchildren Garth Prather of Wichita, KS, Clint Prather of Healy, KS, Lance Prather of Hutchinson, KS, Megan Alexander (Brady) of Stillwater, OK, Heather (Trevor) Henderson of Goodland, KS, Traci Taylor (Matt) of Rose Hill, KS, Jay Hipp of Hays, KS, Travis Ladenburger (DeAnn Dreitz) of Oakley, Kristen Binder (Randy) of Miliken, CO, Jamie Ladenburger of Remington, VA; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Opal was preceded in death by her husband; both parents; and sisters Louise Pearce and Velma Briggs.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 13, 2020, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Schmitt Funeral Home, Quinter.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM Friday, February 14, 2020, at Gove Community Bible Church with pastor Chris Thomas officiating. Burial will at the Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery in WaKeeney, KS.
Donations may be made to the Gove Community Bible Church and the Christian Women’s Fellowship. Donations made to the organizations may be sent to Schmitt Funeral Home, 901 South Main, Quinter, KS 67752.
Condolences may be left for the family at schmittfuneral.com