Jean Moore Prather

Jean Moore Prather, 92, died at home on January 21, 2013. Marie Jeanette (Jean) Moore Prather was born April 27, 1920, in Dunbar, West Virginia, the daughter of Albert K. Moore and Anna Cooper Moore. She was predeceased by her husband, John G. Prather, Sr., and by her younger son, Jerome Prather. She is survived by her son, John G. Prather, Jr. and daughter-in-law Hilma Skonberg Prather; by daughter-in-law Joelyn Herndon Prather; by grandsons Jerome (Jay) Park Prather, Joel Moore Prather, and John Hunt Prather (and wife Mandy), by granddaughter Anna Russell Prather, and a host of cousins and friends. She grew up in Salyersville, Kentucky, where her father was the editor and publisher of the Salyersville Independent. After graduating as class valedictorian of Magoffin Baptist Institute, she graduated from Transylvania University in 1940. While at Transylvania, she served as president of Phi Mu Sorority. She taught commerce at Somerset High School for two years, at Mt. Sterling High School for one year, and then, during World War II, entered the United States Navy as a WAVE and was commissioned as an officer. She served in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cedar Falls, Washington, D.C., and Oakland until being discharged as a Lieutenant junior grade. She and her husband John returned to Kentucky where she made her home until her passing. She was extremely active in her community. She was a member of First Christian Church, where she taught Sunday School for 20 years; served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for many years; and was a staunch supporter of the Boy Scouts. She served as PTA president assisting in obtaining approval of the bond issue to build Hopkins Elementary School. She served as Chair of the Advisory Board of Somerset Community College; Chair of the Pulaski County Library Board during the period of relocation to the old Pulaski County Post Office Building; and was a founding member and president of the Somerset Garden Club. She was a member of the State Board of Democratic Women’s Club of Kentucky; a member of the Kentucky Heritage Commission; and a member of the Transylvania University Alumni Association Board of Directors. Jean also served as the Chair of the Hospice Board of Directors when the hospice program was initiated in Pulaski County. She was the “office manager” for the Law offices of John G. Prather for 18 years. The family of Mrs. Jean Moore Prather will receive friends at the First Christian Church from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, January 24, 2013. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Somerset First Christian Church with Rev. Doug Couch, Rev. Bill Adcock and Bro. David Pendley officiating. Burial will follow in the Somerset Cemetery. Pulaski Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.