“Family”, “Little house, lots of love”, “Each new day is a blessing” are the signs hanging in the home of Jeannie Prather. Those words and actions meant the most to Jeannie. Sadly, Carla “Jeannie” Prather passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022. She was at peace as she was surrounded by her family and friends.
Jeannie was born February 11, 1949 in Wheatland, Indiana to Walter and Marjorie Donnersberger. She graduated from Wheatland High School in 1967. She married her high school sweetheart Richard Keith Prather on September 23, 1967 at the Wheatland Methodist Church and settled into a new role as a wife and mother. While she worked some different places, she spent her favorite years as the front office secretary (aka Wonder Woman and Know-er of All Things) for South Knox High School. She knew every student and relished in the energy (and antics). Her office aides were her second children and she thoroughly enjoyed her time as a sponsor of many junior and senior proms. During the summer months, you couldn’t miss her working at the Knox County Fair. Once she retired, you could find her walking and laughing with her best friends and at times, with much hesitation, doing water aerobics.
She leaves behind a son Michael and his wife Julie (Gegenheimer) of Greenfield, IN and a daughter Tricia (Prather) Anthony and husband Scott of Fishers, IN. She also adored, in her words, “two perfect granddaughters” Kelle Prather of Greenwood, IN and Lorinda Kirk of Golden, CO. She also was loved by her brother Denny Donnersberger of Loogootee, IN and sister-in-law Karen (Prather) Jordan and her husband Charles of Vincennes, IN. She was preceded in death by her husband Keith and her parents.
As she lived and worked her entire life in Knox County, she was blessed to know and be loved by many. Her granddaughters would laugh as Jeannie couldn’t walk through a store or the county fair without stopping and catching up with multiple friends.
Cancer took her early but she fought to the very end. All those that knew Jeannie were blessed and better for it.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, February 1st from 4–7PM at Goodwin-Sievers Funeral Home 524 Broadway St. Vincennes, IN 47591. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to the South Knox Education Foundation and send to 6116 East State Road 61, Vincennes, IN 47591.