Linda Sue Prater

Linda Prater, 80 of New Market, AL went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 15, 2024. She was born in Troy, OH on July 1, 1943, to her parents Nelson and Zelma Weeks. Linda was a long-time member of Flint River Baptist Church where she proudly rocked babies in the nursery on countless Sunday mornings. She was dutifully invested in her ladies' small group which was full of women she loved dearly. Her love of the Lord was shared with everyone. 

Linda attended school at Bethel High School in Tipp City, OH. She graduated with the class of 1961. She met her husband Garner Prater in 1971 through her co-workers. They were married on August 21, 1972, and spent 36  happy years together. In 1989 they decided to move to Alabama to escape the harsh winters of Ohio. Linda had a career starting at Wright Patterson AFB then transferred to Redstone Arsenal. She wore many hats and worked on multiple projects throughout her time with them. She retired in 2012 after 31 years of service.     

Linda nurtured the life that surrounded her. She poured her heart into her family, gardens, dogs, and babies. Her garden was filled with roses, irises, and peonies. Her favorite dog was a cocker spaniel which she bred for some time.  She was especially eager for the arrival of her beloved hummingbirds each spring, taking the time to fill their feeders multiple times each day.

Linda was a firm yet gentle soul. She was a devoted wife, mother, sister, and friend. She loved her family relentlessly and her home was always their home too. Her daughters adored and emulated her, and her grandchildren found natural joy in spending time with her. 

Linda had many passions throughout her life. She loved dancing, playing cards, reading, shopping, and her very precise routine. Her evenings were often spent with her daughter and son-in-law watching her regular programs while knitting. When she wasn’t creating a beautiful blanket for an expected new member of the family, she was making them to donate to the Huntsville Pregnancy Resource Center. 

There is no way to sum up Linda Prater adequately. She was a strong, loving, full-of-life woman. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Her family finds solace in knowing that her body is healed and they will one day be reunited. 

She is preceded in death by her parents Nelson and Zelma Weeks, her husband Garner Prater, her daughter Amanda Prater, her sister Marilynn Elizabeth Weeks, her brother Joe Weeks, and her nephews Randy Weeks, Jeff Weeks, and Brian Couch. 

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Heather and Ross Jackson, her sister Deborah Couch, her grandchildren Charles Barnes, Keturah Teetzen, Mallory McMullen, and John Prater, her great-grandchildren Ryleigh, Echo, Levi, Magdalynn, Camille, and Roman, her nieces Cindy Weeks and Natalie Lowe, her great-nephew Joshua Foley and great niece Christina Foley and many more cousins

The family asks that you wear your favorite shade of blue in attendance.

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