Reda Joyce Prather

Funeral service for Reda Joyce Prather will be 2 p.m., Fri., Jan. 24, at Washington Baptist Church with Pastor Charlie Lehman officiating. Burial will follow at Chelsea Cemetery under the direction of the Chelsea Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Visitation will be held at the funeral home Thurs. 1-8 p.m., and family will greet friends 6-8 p.m.

Family and friends sang Reda Joyce Prather into Heaven January 19, 2014. Joyce was born January 25, 1941 in Alluwe, OK to Henry C. and Ruby J. Martin-Dick. She attended Chelsea Schools. She married the love of her life Ralph Prather July 3, 1959 in Chelsea and on this date she become the proud mother of Susie, David, and Pam. Later to the union came Tammye and Sherri. She loved her family and was devoted to her husband and kids. Joyce was actively involved in church and pianist for Washington Baptist Church for more then 20 yrs. Joyce was blessed to have two church families. She was a current member of 1st Baptist Church of Chelsea and long time member of Washington Baptist Church. She loved both church families dearly. Joyce was best known for her positive attitude, kind words, and radiant smile. She never spent time focused on her own adversities but rather spent her time in constant prayer for family and friends. Until recently, and amidst her blindness, Joyce utilized her talking telephone as her lifeline to dial her loved ones and be in constant visitation and prayer. She loved her telephone and frequently called her favorite radio station, Oasis, dedicating gospel songs to those in need or placed upon her heart. God certainly had a purpose for Joyce. The Lord used her as a prayer warrior and a great witness until her work here was done. Joyce will be missed by daughter’s Susie Maggard and husband Randy, Pam Zincke, Tammye Cox and husband Billy, Sherri Riddle and husband Royce, step sister Darlene Baldwin and loving friends Barbara Robbins, Vera Kuykendall, and Wanda Lester. She also leaves behind a host of family and other friends. Joyce has 16 grandchildren, and 36 great grandchildren who reminisce about her good Creamy Wheat, Blueberry Muffins, and going to Vacation Bible School. Her husband Ralph Prather, son David Prather, two brother’s John Lewis Dick, Ray Dick and her mother and father, precedes her in death.