Joyce Prather, age 83, passed into the arms of Jesus surrounded by family on November 30, 2021, at her home in Jamestown, Kan. She was born May 2, 1938, in Dodge City, Kansas, the second of five children to Henry Julius (Jude) Neufeld and Elsie (Hiebert) Neufeld. She grew up on a farm near Ingalls, Kan.
After graduating from Ingalls High School in 1956 and obtaining her bachelor of arts in teaching from Tabor College in 1962, she taught in Halstead and Copeland, Kan.
Joyce married Vaughn Prather on July 28, 1967, and moved to their farm near Randall, Kansas. After teaching for a year in Jamestown, Kan., she dedicated herself to be a full-time wife and mother of three children.
She is survived by her husband, Vaughn, of Jamestown, Kan.; three children: Carl (Kay) Prather of Randall, Kan., Leon Prather of Manhattan, Kan., and Julie Prather of Topeka, Kan.; six grandchildren; six step-granddaughters, and twenty great-grandchildren; sister, Karen (Elgie) Friesen, Wellington, Colo.; brother, JD (Sylvia) Neufeld, Sand Springs, Okla.; sister-in-law, Maxine Neufeld, Garden City, Kan.; several nieces, nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law, Vida and Vernon Bartel, and brother, Melvin Neufeld.
The family selected cremation and burial of the cremains will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021, at the Scottsville Cemetery, Scottsville, Kan., with a Celebration of Life service at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at the Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, Concordia, Kan., with Pastor Al Paredes officiating. Friends may sign the register book from 1-8 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6-7 p.m. on Friday, December 10, 2021, all at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to the Scottsville Community Church, Gideons International or the donor’s choice in care of the funeral home. For online condolences, please visit www.chaputbuoy.com. Chaput-Buoy Funeral Home, 325 W. Sixth St., PO Box 606, Concordia, KS 66901, is in charge of arrangements.
