Harley Monroe Prater, Sr.

Harley Monroe Prater, Sr., age 87, a lifetime resident of Strickler, Arkansas, passed away Monday, January 17, 2022, at Willard Walker Hospice Home in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was born June 2, 1934, in Strickler, Arkansas, the son of Thomas Jefferson and Deedie (Moore) Prater.

Harley was a 32nd degree mason. He was a founding/charter member of the Strickler Volunteer Fire Department. Being a lifetime resident, he was able to provide direction for emergency services into remote areas, with a great desire to serve his friends and neighbors in their times of need.

Traveling 46 of these United States and into parts of Canada on his Honda Goldwing with Verneal always by his side, was one of the great joys of his life. Music has provided all who knew Harley with so much happiness from singing at church from his shaped note hymnals to invited events and around the home with family joining in to sing Christmas songs or hymns.

Harley retired from Willis Shaw Express as maintenance supervisor after 27 years of service. After his retirement, woodworking became a passion and gifting his work to family and friends brought him great satisfaction.

Harley was a man loved by his family for his kindness, his generosity and his love of laughter and a good tease or joke. He was devoted and loyal. A man who most assuredly will be missed by family, friends, neighbors and the community.

He was preceded in death by his parents, seven brothers and four sisters.

Survivors include his wife, Verneal Prater of the home; five children, Harley Prater Jr. “Butch” and his wife Yevon, Mike Prater and his wife Janell, Diane Prater Jones and her husband Danny, Edward Addison and his wife Karen, and Raymond Addison and his wife Debbie; eleven grandchildren, Natalie Prater Batchelor, Titus Prater, Clay Prater, Cody Prater, Tanner Jones, Crystal Jones Couch, Scott Addison, Brian Addison, Steven Addison, Katherine Addison Rohrbach, Kayla Addison Rodriguez; nine great- grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral service was held January 21, 2022, at New Sulphur Freewill Baptist Church in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. Burial was in the Zinnamon Cemetery in Strickler, Arkansas.

Memorials may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation (parkinsons.org) or the Shriner’s Hospital.

Online guest book, www.luginbuel.com.

Prater