The family of Charles E. Prater will celebrate his life of 92 years at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 11, 2020, at First United Methodist Church. His family will host a time of fellowship and remembrance from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Thursday, December 10, 2020, at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. He passed away Monday, December 7, 2020. In support of the health of everyone, face coverings are mandatory while attending the service and visitation. The service will be live-streamed on this page, where you are encouraged to sign the virtual guestbook and share memories and expressions of sympathy.Charles E. Prater was born on January 28, 1928, in Seymour, Texas, to Ed and Mary Prater. After high school, he went into the army for 18 months and received the Victory Medal. In 1949, he married Kathryn Marlene Humphreys and they had four children – Chris, Debbie, Julie, and Scott. Charles graduated from Texas Tech University in 1952 with a degree in Agricultural Education. Upon graduation from Tech, he began work on a farm that had one old house and irrigation well, and founded his business, Prater’s Turkeys, later named Prater’s Foods. A year later, he was awarded “Outstanding Young Farmer of Lubbock County” by the Lubbock Junior Chamber of Commerce. After years of marriage, he and Marlene divorced. In 1980, he was welcomed into another family, marrying Ramona Fern Ford McDonald, who had three grown children, Allen, Brenda, and Roxanne. An article in the South Plains Electric Cooperative publication titled “Prater’s: A Tradition of Excellence” wrote about Charles as follows: “There’s a certain texture to Charles Prater. You feel and see it in his eyes when you sit down to visit with him. It is a texture of horse trader, independence, warmth, and determination, highlighted by a quest for excellence all woven in a down-home manner.”. He expanded the business from one old house to a 75K square foot production operation. He sold Prater’s to Chip Chenoweth, Jr., who later sold to United Supermarkets, and he and Ramona traveled, fished and, enjoyed being together. Charles was loved by all and will be missed.He was preceded in death by his parents; and his son Chris.Charles leaves his wife, Ramona; his children, Deborah (Steve) Cates, Julie (John) Fiedler, and Scott (Cecilia) Prater; step-children, Allen (Darlene) McDonald, Brenda (Randy) Rampy, and Roxanne Tijerina; 18 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
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