This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: PRATHER, KERN, COVERT, GRAY Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/nZB.2ACE/279 Message Board Post: The Hood River News, Hood River, OR., May 5, 1939, page 15 PIONEER MATRON DIES AT PASADENA Relatives and friends in Hood River learned with deep regret of the death, on April 25, in Pasadena, Calif., of Mrs. Blanche D. Prather, 81, revered matriarch of a former widely-known Hood River family. She was the widow of the late Laban A. Prather, who died in Hood River 37 years ago, and a sister-in-law of Mrs. Lucretia Prather, 1212 Columbia street, this city. Mrs. Prather’s death came as a shock to her family and a wide circle of friends. Although a semi-invalid for many years, she had remained active in church and neighborhood affairs and was beloved in her California community as “Grandma” Prather. An impressive funeral last Wednesday preceded interment in the Mountain View cemetery, Pasadena. The Prathers came to Hood River from Kansas City, Mo., in 1900. For 22 years, while rearing a considerable family, they made friends here as industrious fruitgrowers and orchardists. They moved to Pasadena in 1922 to establish a permanent home, hoping the milder climate would benefit Mrs. Prather’s health. Mrs. Prather is survived by a sister, Mrs. Narr Kern, of Milan, Mo.; two daughters, Mrs. Albert Covert, of Pasadena, and Mrs. Paul Gray, of San Francisco; three sons, Earl A. Prather, Pasadena; Bert E. Prather, Grass Valley, Calif., and S. Clay Prather, Los Angeles. She leaves nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Other close relatives reside in Portland, in Seattle, Wash., and in Missouri. This was posted for reference only. I am not related to, nor am I researching this family. If you have additional information about the person or event listed above, please post it as reply to this message.