Bishop Funeral Home
December 14, 2015
Submitted by: Carol Spear Rice

U.S. Veteran
Cecil Wayne Prater, 81 of Canadian, died Saturday, December 12, 2015 at a local nursing center.
The family will greet friends Tuesday from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Bishop Funeral Service.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at Sandridge United Pentecostal Church near Enterprise officiated by Rev. Melvin Gray, Rev. George Malloy, and Rev. Rick Fleming. Interment will follow in Crowder Cemetery with military honors by the U.S. Air Force Honors Team. A meal will be provided for the family at the Crowder Free Will Baptist Church fellowship hall following the committal service. Service arrangements are entrusted to Bishop Funeral Service and Crematory.
Cecil Wayne Prater was born on July 29, 1934 at Stoney Point near Calvin. He was born during the Great Depression and was a member of a large family that learned the value of hard work and determination. Wayne married Melba Sue Ray on February 1, 1957 in Earlimart, California. They had five children together and were married 58 years. After living in many locations from California to Massachusetts, they finally settled at Canadian where they have lived for the past 50 years.
Wayne joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and served for 10 years. He flew over 400 missions on various bombers during and after the Korean War. He also flew spy aerial photography missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He proudly credited his faith in God for his safety through so many dangerous situations.
Wayne worked a variety of jobs after leaving the Air Force, finally specializing on heavy equipment operation and repair in the pipeline industry. He retired in 2013. He enjoyed working on automobiles and competitive racing as a hobby. Wayne was a proud member of the United Pentecostal Church of Eufaula and was always ready to share his faith, kindness, and generosity with others. He never met a stranger and was a devoted friend to many that knew him. The legacy that Wayne was the most proud was his family. He had a large family and enjoyed them his entire life. He taught his children and grandchildren the value of family and pride in their work. He loved spending as much time with his family as possible, whether that involved work or pleasure. He was the patriarch and rock of his family and will be sorely missed by all.
Survivors include his wife: Melba Sue Prater of the home; sons: Craig (Shorty) Prater and wife, Jeanie of Crowder, Kelly Prater and wife, Angie of Childress, Texas; daughters: Darlene Oxford and husband, Danny of Eufaula, Gaylene Stryker and husband, Rod of Houston, Texas; grandchildren: Derek Prater and wife, Kim, Shawnda Salazar and husband, Todd, Monica Prater, Jermey Manning and Skye, Shasta Prater, Ryan Prater, Miranda Prater, Kaleb Prater, Kenzie Fairchild and husband, David, Josh Prater and wife, Sara, Austin Prater, Megan Stafford and husband, Adam, Kelly Dawn Rhyne and husband, Sam, Kylee Engleman, Kelsy Engleman.
Also, great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Ty, Samantha, Natalie, Sydney, Landon, Briar, Maicee, Kynzley, Kutter Grace, Cooper, Cason, Cade, Calhan, Maya, Kendalyn, Ethan, Keaton, Haven, Rilynn, Daylin, Kyler, Jackson, Sadie Jane, Wyatt, Tuff, Adalyn; brothers: Rev. Lionel Mounce and wife, JoAnn, Marshall Loy Mounce, Troy Mounce; sisters: Vera Havens and husband, Leland, Isabelle Faulkner, brothers-in-law: Harry Dietz and wife, Joyce, Ned Belding, sisters-in-law: Louise Stout and husband, Leo, Kathy Smith; aunts: Grace Turner, Florence Farrell, Marcellete Ingram; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family members and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Orville Mounce, Sr. and Maudie (Turner) Prater-Mounce; son: Gregory Wayne Prater; great-grandson: Keith Alan Manning; brothers: Orville Mounce, Jr, Bill Mounce; and sisters: Peggy Maxey, Agnes Loudermilk, Arlene Belding, Jewel O Gwin, and Eva Clayback.
Pallbearers will be Kaleb Prater, Sam Rhyne, Kyler Rhyne, Ryan Prater, Derek Prater, Josh Prater, Jermey Manning, Austin Prater, Devin Oxford, and Tony Mounce.
Honorary pallbearers will be Harold Glover, Roy Engleman, Gene Rogers, Hershel Bumgarner, Rev. Lee Mantooth, Clark Rhyne, Randal Humphries, Jim Rhyne, Danny Oxford, Rod Stryker, Adam Stafford, Chester Corley, and Sam McElhaney.

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