Jeanette Prather, 99, of Greentown, passed away at 11:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis.
She was born on September 24, 1925, in Kokomo, IN to Irvin and Nellie (DeBon) Ford.
In the winter of 1943, as a young 18-year-old girl, she took the train alone to Tyler, TX to be with her love, Robert E. “Bob” Prather, Sr. who’d been drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. They were married on December 11, 1943.
She spent 22 years farming with her husband in Cass and Eastern Howard Counties and worked 25 years as head cashier at National Life Insurance in Kokomo until her retirement. A lifelong member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Kokomo and a member of the Moose, where she formerly served as secretary, she cherished both her family and her faith.
Jeanette delighted in attending her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s school and athletic events, beaming with pride at their achievements. She loved hosting big family Christmas parties, welcoming family visits, cheering on IU basketball, and savoring long phone calls, often with a cold Coke in hand.
She is survived by a son, Robert (Gayle) Prather, Jr.; a daughter, Joyce (Kenny) Graham; grandchildren, Greg Smith, Annette (David) Emerson, Dawn (Doug) VanBibber, Dr. Kent (Kim) McCorkle, Joy (Gene) Record, Julie (Greg) Stonebraker, Dr. Christopher (Amy) Prather, Kristen (Jesse) Wisler, and Caleb Graham; great-grandchildren, McKenna (Andrew) Shuler, Shelby (Logan) Waggoner, Audra (Dylan) Mullen, Sydney Fite, Austin Rogers, Jamie (Julia) Stonebraker, Adam Emerson, Aaron (Lydia) Emerson, Cameron Graham, Isabel (Thomas) Nolasco, Lilli Graham, Annelise Graham, Camden Prather, Carson Prather, Grace VanBibber, Cooper Prather, Connor McCorkle, Nash Wisler, Chloe McCorkle, Clayton Prather; and twelve great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; her daughter, Susan Kay Smith; son-in-law, Jerry Smith; her brothers, Edward Ford and his wife Leora, and Robert Ford and his wife Betty; her sisters, Dorothy Renie and her husband Joe, and Eleanor Buroker and her husband DeMerle; her sisters-in-law, Dorothy Mae Foust, Ruby Mullen, and Betty Dick; and her brother-in-law, Jack Prather.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, March 29, 2025, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1229 North Washington Street with Rev. Fr. Peter Vanderkolk the celebrant.
Entombment will follow in Sunset Memory Garden Cemetery.
Friends may visit with the family from 5 pm to 7 pm on Friday March 28, 2025, Shirley & Stout Funeral Homes, 1315 W Lincoln Road, Kokomo, with the Rosary recited at 7 pm and again from 10:30 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be made in Jeanette’s name to St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Messages of condolence may be left at www.shirleyandstout.com.
