Deward Andrew Prater

Deward Andrew Prater, age 92, of Mt. Vernon, Missouri, passed away at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at Mercy Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. He was born June 15, 1926, in Everton, Missouri, the son of Adoneth and Lelah (Friar) Prater.
Deward was a 1944 graduate of Mt. Vernon High School and a U.S. Army Veteran serving during World War II. He was a Sheriff’s Deputy and a U.S. Postal Employee. He enjoyed fishing and camping with his family and friends and was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Vernon.
On August 6, 1944, he married Geraldine “Jerry” Lundien, in Columbus, Kansas. She preceded him in death on June 24, 2018.
Deward is survived by his two sons, Nick Prater and his wife, Connie, and Terry Prater and his wife, Cindy; four grandchildren, Mike (April) Prater, John (Lori) Prater, Jeremy (Jamie) Prater and Erin (Matt) Shuster; also special in his life were his great-grandchildren, Jacob, Jeffrey and Jenna Shuster, Josh (Savanah), Kyle, Makenna, Ryan, Jase, Jax, Mia and Anya Prater; step-grandson, Mike Lanning and his family, Kim, Addison and Vivian; one sister-in-law, Nancy Hilton and brother-in-law, Larry Lundien and his wife, Melba.
His parents, Adoneth and Lelah and his wife of 73 years, Jerry, preceded him in death.
A visitation under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home, in Mt. Vernon was held from 9:30-10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2018, at the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Vernon funeral service followed at 10:00 a.m. at the church. Burial was in Shiloh Cemetery northeast of Miller, Missouri.
Memorial donations may be made payable to the First United Methodist Church, in care of the funeral home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.FossettMosherFuneralHome.com.