PRATHER, Anna L (Smyser)
Date of death: 6 Nov 1918 – Samaria, Hensley Township, Johnson County, Indiana
Franklin Democrat, November 15, 1918, page 6
DEATH OF MRS. JOHN PRATHER AT SAMARIA
Mrs. John Prather died at her home in Samaria Wednesday, after a lingering illness from heart trouble. The funeral was conducted in the yard Friday by Rev. Sam Kneisley. Burial at Mt. Pleasant cemetery.
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OBITUARY
Ec. 12:6-7 – “Or ever the silver cord be loosed or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain or the wheel broken at the cistern. “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was; and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.”
Silently, in the still watches of the night came the messenger bearing the summons to a dear one in our midst and as silently did the spirit respond to the call and slip away, for, as she said, she was “ready” when the call should come.
Anna Smyser Prather, daughter of John and Mary Smyser, was born in Hensley township, April 6, 1867, and died at her home in Samaria Nov. 6, 1918, aged 51 years, 6 months and 28 days.
She became a member of Samaria Christian church, Aug. 11, 1887, under the leadership of Rev. Fillmore. Her marriage to John W. Prather occurred June 4, 1893. To this union were born five children: Mrs. Bradford E. Moore, near Morgantown, Mrs. Emmett Sandefur of Franklin, Misses Zola and Christine Prather of Samaria, and one son, Harvey Prather, also of Samaria.
Mrs. Prather’s life was spent in Hensley township, with the exception of a few months, which she spent in Indianapolis and Union township, shortly after her marriage.
After going to reside in the Friendship neighborhood, she became a member of the church at that place and was a staunch and loyal member for about twenty-three years.
She was the last of a family of five children. She leaves a husband, five children and three grand children to mourn the loss of one whose place can never be filled.
Bearing ever a cordial greeting and a pleasant smile to those she met, she drew to her a circle of friends to whom her memory will be held most dear. A faithful wife, a devoted, sacrificing mother, a loving neighbor and friend has peacefully taken her departure to a brighter realm and the sorrowing family and friends are left to cherish the memory of so true a life, and to so live that we may be able to say, as she, “We are ready,” when the call comes.
I cannot feel that thou art far,
Since near at need the angels are;
And when the sunset gates unbar,
Shall I not see thee waiting stand,
And white against the evening sky,
The welcome of thy beckoning hand!
Link to Anna L Smyser Prathe’s grave
Submitted by Cathea Curry