Austin, TX – It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Donna Jean Prater Ready, aka “Nonna” on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at the age of 75 years. Her story of love, tenacity and strength will continue to be told by her children, Laura Ready Vincent, and Laura’s children: Zachary, Brianna, Emma, and Olivia; and Frank Ready (wife, Jennifer) and their children: Cullen, Haylee, Staton and Eleanor. She is preceded in death by her parents Eleanor Arnett Prater and Don Prater, Jr. She is also survived by her two brothers: Doug Prater (wife, Valerie) and their children: Ben, Allie, and Katie and her “BFF” youngest brother, David Prater, who never left her side for a second during her final weeks on this earth. She was blessed with 4 great-grandchildren and 1 more on the way.
To know Donna was to love her. She had a quick and easy grin and a sharp wit that drew people to her naturally.
She knew how to set a formal dining table fit for a dignitary; but also could be heard telling her grandchildren: “If you put an ice cube in your wine, you won’t get drunk as fast…” She often told Laura and Frank that “Grandchildren are God’s way of rewarding you for not killing your own children.”
She loved every one of them deeply and they could do no wrong in her eyes. Her strength was indescribable.
She battled cancer for 14 years. She even beat it a few times. This last round was more than her poor body could take and, yet, she rarely complained and fought hard until the end. She took her final breath surrounded by her family. She will no longer be in pain, and she will continue to watch over us as we find a way to move on without her here.
We will be celebrating her life on Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Magoffin County Funeral Home in Salyersville, Kentucky.
One her favorite movies was Fried Green Tomatoes and she watched it in her final days with family. A quote from the movie:
“You know, a heart can be broken, but it keeps on beating, Just the same.”
