Lyle Gaylord Prather, 87, passed away on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Westside Village Nursing Center in Indianapolis. He was born on September 10, 1937, at his family’s farmhouse in Vermillion County, Illinois, a son of the late Lyle Everett and Gladys Opal (Prather) Prather.
On November 6, 1956, he married Ruth Ann (Alward) Prather in Kingman, Indiana; she survives.
Gaylord graduated from Kingman High School in 1955. He was a pressman at RR Donnelly for many years, retiring in 1994. He then started a lawn care business. He maintained lawns, landscapes, did handyman work and flirted with little old ladies for another twenty years.
Dad/Papaw/Mr. P. never did anything part-way or in low gear. He was all in or stay-home. This was especially so pertaining to exercise and fitness. He participated in several Hilly Hundred bicycle events. This flowed through to “walking” his dog when he could no longer ride. The nursing home staff called him “The Breeze” and joked about replacing carpets.
Upon discovering a euchre game and plenty of little old ladies, Dad/Papaw/Mr. P. became a member of the Crawfordsville Moose Lodge. He also enjoyed gardening and flipping for haircuts, which were always too short for Mom. References to “onion” abounded when he returned from the barber shop.
Dad/Papaw/Mr. P. was an avid fan of IU basketball, the Green Bay Packers, and the St. Louis Cardinals. Gaylord was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather who will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Ann Prather; children, Kevin (Melanie) Prather, Michelle Prather (Brett), Michael Prather; son-in-law Gary Vorhees; grandchildren, Mallory Prather-Graves (Daniel), Mahalia Prather, and Brooke Prather; and great grandchildren, Drake and Dawson Graves.
In addition to his parents, Lyle was preceded in death by his daughter, Tamara Voorhees and grandson, Jeffrey Fulwider.
No services are planned. Lyle will be interred at Waynetown Masonic Cemetery. Myers Mortuary and Boone County Crematory in Lebanon have been entrusted with his cremation.
Memorials may be directed in his memory to The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 or Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Avenue, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10001 Phone: 866-232-8484.
Online condolences: www.MyersMortuary.com