David Prater Obituary

MOUNT GILEAD - David "Dave" Prater, age 66 of Mount Gilead, passed away on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at Grant Medical Center.

Dave was born on September 5, 1958, to Grady and Elizabeth (Osborne) Prater in Detroit, Michigan. He worked for Advanced Auto for 30 years in shipping and receiving.

Dave's home-away-from-home was the outdoors. He loved to sit outside, mow the lawn, play horseshoes, and just be present with nature. He loved to laugh and make others do the same. He was a devoted Michigan Wolverines and Detroit Tigers fan and cheered them on whenever he could.

Most notably, Dave had a fierce and deep love for his family. He was a loyal friend, brother and uncle. He did not have any children of his own, but his nieces and nephews held his heart. He loved them so much and enjoyed spending time with them. He was so good with his special needs nephew, Christian, with whom he took to the fair every year to see the cows. They just "got" each other. They could both be a handful sometimes, but that's what made their bond and understanding of each other so great.

Left to cherish Dave's memory are his siblings: Lonnie (Susan) Prater, Debbie Adkins, and Niecy (Randy) Shepherd; significant other, Kathy Drake; nieces and nephews: Stephanie Rickert, Michelle Jackson, Anna Adkins, Christian Adkins, Dustin Prater, Danielle Prater, Andrea Rose, Laurie Beth Spencer, and Kyle Shepherd; and numerous great nieces and nephews, and some great-great nieces and nephews, too. Also surviving are special friends, Mark and Trina Thomas, and his chihuahua best friend, Pepper. He will be dearly missed by all those who were blessed enough to know and love him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Grady and Elizabeth Prater, and brother-in-law, Scott Adkins.

Dave's family will greet friends on Monday, July 7, 2025, from 2-4 PM at Snyder Funeral Home, Mount Gilead, 67 N Main Street. A celebration of life service will begin at 4 PM.