Roy "Ed" Edward Prater

October 12, 1928 - February 24, 2020

Roy "Ed" Edward Prater was born on October 12, 1928, in St. Charles, Missouri to Roy Lee David and Opal Lucille (Cayringer) Prater and passed away February 24, 2020, in the Missouri Baptist Hospital of Sullivan, Missouri at the age of ninety-one years. Ed grew up and attended school in Bixby. At the age of sixteen, he moved to St. Louis, where he started working at Loy Lange Box Company as a General Laborer. Ed learned to work hard as a young man and worked hard to provide for his family. Ed was united in marriage to his sweetheart, Norma I. Dotson, on October 17, 1997 in Viburnum. Together they shared twenty-two years of marriage and were blessed to share six children: Joseph, Ron, Kathy, Charlotte, Julia, and Carla. Ed enjoyed spending his time outdoors. He liked to hunt about anything, to include: deer, squirrel, turkey and mushrooms. Ed was known to the community as, Sassafrass, he was an avid root-digger and enjoyed a good cup of sassafrass tea. Ed liked to work with his hands and built several bird houses for his family and friends. Most of all, Ed cherished his time spent with his family and treasured his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ed is survived by his loving wife Norma Prater of the home; four children: Joseph Copeland of Viburnum, MO, Ron Copeland and wife Chris of Bixby, MO, Kathy Dixon and husband Leroy of Bixby, MO, and Charlotte Roach and husband Keith of Fredericktown, MO; siblings: Cecil Prater and wife Betty of Bonne Terre, MO; Ruby Warren of Fenton, MO, Virgel Prater of Bonne Terre, MO, and Ruthie Smith and husband Jim of St. Louis, MO; ten grandchildren: Ashley Dennison, Zach Copeland, Nick Copeland, Rachel Parks, Jessica Copeland, Jenny Copeland, Wendy Hadley, Edward L. Dixon, Thomas Roach, and Mitchell Roach; sixteen great-grandchildren; extended family and friends. Preceding him in death were, his parents: Roy and Opal Prater and two step-daughters: Julia Hadley and Carla Parks. Ed will be remembered as a dedicated husband, caring father, and a loving grandfather. He will be forever remembered and greatly missed. Funeral Services for Roy “Ed” Edward Prater were held Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Wilson Mortuary Viburnum Chapel with Pastor Bill Mathes officiating. Special Music was provided by Kevin and Kim Abney singing “Go Rest High On That Mountain” and “Blessed Hope”, additional song selection played was “Pretty Green Hills”. Serving as Pallbearers were Tyler Dennison, Zach Copeland, Thomas Roach, Mitchell Roach, Keith Roach, and Clinton Dotson. Burial was in the Dotson Cemetery of Bixby, Missouri. Arrangements were under the direction of Wilson Mortuary of Viburnum, Missouri. Memorial Contributions may be made in memory of Roy "Ed" Edward Prater and left at Wilson Mortuary. Online condolences may be entered at www.wilsonmortuary.com