Praters celebrate 50 golden years together
by Tina Cole-Mullins
Doug and Kathy (Lykins) Prater are a special couple who spent their entire married life in this area, surrounded by family and faith. So for their 50th anniversary, family and friends honored them with a surprise celebration at the Highest Praise Worship Center last fall.
The couple met in July 1971 at a carnival/fair. They were introduced by their cousins, Tom and Mary Horn, who were dating at the time.
After only six weeks of dating, on Sept. 3, 1971, Doug and Kathy were married. They had a small nighttime wedding at the home of Doug’s parents on Morton Road, in a yard not even equipped with lighting for such an event.
The couple spent their life together working and living in the area. They raised their two children — Cyndi (Prater) Eibler and Anthony Prater — in their Dansville home.
Later, the Praters moved to Munith, and enjoyed having both their children as neighbors. They also were surrounded by their five grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.
The Praters and their family spent decades helping with the ministries offered through the Church of God, making the Highest Praise Worship Center the obvious site for a special anniversary celebration.
Doug is a stoic man who never cries, but he was moved to tears as family and friends gathered for the event. Some came from as far away as Florida.
Offering a tearful thank-you to those in attendance, Doug called his wife Kathy up to join him for their speech.
“I can tell you right now what held us together was God!” Doug said. “To be open, Kathy has had to put up with a lot. But through God and His grace, we are where we are today celebrating 50 years.”
Kathy also thanked those at the celebration.
“God has really blessed us in these 50 years,” she said. “He blessed me with a man who is my best friend.”
And the family and friends of Doug and Kathy Prater are thankful for their help, faith and loving example throughout the past 50 years.
Although I do not walk graciously with God as the Praters do, I am honored to say their love and dedication to each other, their family and friends have been part of my foundation and a guide throughout my life and my own relationship.
Kathy and Doug Prater “This here is my strength!” shared Doug Prater of his wife at their 50th anniversary celebration. Photo provided by Zaneta Craft
February is the month when SCN celebrates the enduring strength of love. This is our fourth year shining a spotlight on couples from the Stockbridge area who have celebrated 50 years or more of marriage. Many thanks to those couples who were willing to be interviewed for our 2022 feature. (Headline from poem by Elaine Davis.)
Couples we’ve highlighted in previous years include:
- AC and Cheryl Allen
- June and Fred Brockmiller
- Chuck and Joan Bumpus
- Dale and Eileen Conti
- Marvin and Jeanne Cook
- Stan and Susan Daily
- Bev and Dave Glynn
- Arlene and Ron Kaiser
- Jan and George Kitley
- Terry and Dianne Outwater
- Don and Tammy Porter
- Claire and Linda Risner
- Claire and John Sawicki
- Doug and Terry Sommer
- Ivan and Cheryl Wyrick
- Richard and Margaret Morrison
- Jim and Edith Zeitz
