Ossie Francis Prater, age 83, a resident of Owingsville, KY, passed away peacefully February 16, 2022.
He was born on October 21, 1938 in Magoffin County, KY, to Powell and Myrtle
Powers Prater who preceded him in death.
He was a 1957 graduate of Salyersville High School in Magoffin County, KY. He attended Morehead State College where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1963. He met his future wife, while attending Morehead State, Peggy McNew, and they were married at the First Methodist Church in Paintsville, KY on August 12, 1962. Ossie and Peggy lived in Frenchburg for 2 years where she taught at Menifee County High
School while Ossie attended Morehead State College. Ossie began teaching at Bath County in January of 1964. He taught eighth and ninth grade science & chemistry until he retired in May of 1995. Ossie attended the Owingsville First Church of God and Mt. Sterling First Church of God. Ossie also worked for the Texas Eastern Gas Company for 20 summers.
Ossie was involved in various community activities and organizations. He was one of the first organizers of the Owingsville Fire Department and a Hall of Fame member of Owingsville Fire Department. He was also involved in all aspects of Muzzleloading rifles. He was a member of the National Muzzle Loading Association, Kentucky Corps of Longrifles, the Magoffin County Muzzle-Loading Club, and the Kentucky Longrifles, Inc. He handmade leather pouches, primitive knives and power horns. Ossie also competed in competitive muzzleloading shooting. He loved to do primitive camping and his association with his local, state, and national muzzleloading friends. He was also a member of the Bath County Sportsmen Club. Bird hunting and fishing were also two of his favorite activities. In recent years, he handmade fishing jigs and flies for his friends. Ossie could always be seen riding around the neighborhood on his orange Kubota tractor. He loved to garden. He spent many hours caring for his 100 plus tomato plants and his other vegetables. He also loved using his orange Kubota lawn mower as his means of transportation and used it to mow his yards.
Ossie never met a stranger. He loved to talk to people. To get the conversation started he said, “Where are you from?”, then the conversation started and before they knew it, they found someone in common that they both knew.
Ossie and Peggy were married for almost 60 years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Allan Francis Prater (Rose), Xenia, OH, and Ricky Layne Prater (Sheila), Owingsville, KY. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Jonathan Allan Prater (Shelby), Xenia, OH, Drew Dennis Prater, Parker, Co and Catherine Opal Prater, Owingsville, KY. He is also survived by a soon-to-be great grandson, Keegan Allen Prater, Xenia, OH. He is survived by two sisters, Inis Sudell Prater Conley (AB) Salyersville, KY and Alice Yvonne Prater Turner, Salyersville, KY, and several nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by one brother-in-law, Terry Turner.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Friday, February 25, 2022 at the Owingsville First Church of God with Pastor Dave Dooley and Rev. Lowell Rice officiating.
Burial will follow at the Owingsville Cemetery.
Visitation at the Owingsville First Church of God will be from 5:00 P.M. – 9:00 P.M. Thursday.
The Michael R. Gray Funeral Home, 89 Slate Avenue, Owingsville, Kentucky 40360 is caring for all arrangements for Ossie Francis Prater.
To view the online memorial and sign the guest book, please visit www.mrgfh.com.
