Mrs. Martha Prater, 87, valley pioneer, passed away at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, on North Walnut Street, at 11 o’clock yesterday morning [March 11, 1934]. Mrs. Prater suffered a paralytic stroke Thursday evening and her condition gradually grew worse until her death.
Conscious almost to the end, she seemed cheerful and talked to relatives present. Her last words were “All is well.” Mrs. Prater had been in unusually good health for her age and only last Monday evening visited Mr. and Mrs. Austin Mires to extend greetings on their 50th wedding anniversary. A few days later she became ill with a cold which was followed by the fatal stroke.
Mrs. Prater was born in Missouri on April 18, 1846. She crossed the plains with her parents to California by ox team in 1859. Later she moved to Walla Walla and was married there to F. G. Prater. July 5, 1878 they moved to the Kittitas Valley and purchased the Geddis ranch on the West Side where they [family] lived for many years [Felix died four months later].
After selling the farm to C. C. Prater, her son, Mrs. Prater moved to Ellensburg into a home she built on Ruby Street. Later she took up her residence with her daughter Mrs. [Minnie] Wangeman.
Mrs. Prater was reared in the Presbyterian faith, but after coming to the valley, joined the Methodist church. She was a regular attendant at the 11 o’clock Sunday morning service. It was exactly that hour on Sunday morning when she passed away.
“Grandma” Prater, as she was familiarly called by those who knew her, was also a member of the WCTU and a charter member of the local organization.
She is survived by three daughters, two sons, and 26 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren. The daughters are Mrs. Clara Noel, Tacoma; Mrs. J. M. Prater, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, Ellensburg; and the sons, F. G. and C. C. Prater, Ellensburg.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 PM at the Methodist church with Rev. Olin M. Graham in charge. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery. Grandsons will be the pallbearers.
Relatives expected here today include Mrs. Myrtle Frances, Aberdeen; Robert Noel, Tacoma; Mrs. Pauline Stalcup, Tacoma; Mrs. Stella Faithful, Tacoma; Ray Noel, Snohomish; Hollie Denise, Auburn; Dorsey Prater, Seattle; Dr. Clayton Wangeman, Seattle; Mr. and Mrs. Glen Kelley, Fall City; Perry Hall, Tacoma; Wendell Prater, Pullman, Wash.; Mrs. G. W. Farris, Albert Farris, Melvin Farris, Oscar Farris, Howard Farris, Louis Farris; Mrs. Nona Farris, Ruth Farris, Esther Farris, Naoma Farris and Mary Farris from points on the Sound.
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman