Don Waymon Prater

Don was born on November 25, 1937, in San Benito, Texas to Ola and OB Prater. Family visitation will be Tuesday, October 31, 2023, 9:30 am – 10:30 am in the sanctuary at First Baptist Church Grandview, 401 East Criner Street, Grandview Texas. Celebration of Life service will follow at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church Grandview. Burial will be at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, at a later date.

Don attended Arlington High School where he met his first wife Patricia Darlene Hill and the mother to his four children. Don and Darlene married in 1960. After Darlene’s passing in 1986, he met and married his current wife Shirley Pelletier Cook in 1993.

Don was an active member of the US Army, Army Reserves and Army National Guard, where he served several years on the board of directors, Don retired in 1988 as an E8 Master Sergeant after 28 years of service to our country.

Upon an honorable discharge from active duty, Don worked a brief time with the family business in dirt construction, then worked at Bell helicopter and finished his career at General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin with 40 years of employment.

Don and Shirley were active members of the Good Sams RV Club from shortly after his retirement up until last year. Don and Shirley served as Assistant State Directors for 12 years and Directors for five years.

Don was a member of the First Baptist Church Grandview. He served as a deacon and was a member on many different church boards. You would always find Don and Shirley in the kitchen helping with VBS.

When his kids and grandkids were in school in Grandview you would see Don helping at school events like the PTO Halloween Carnival, Sports Booster Club, Band Booster Club and pulling his trailer in the parades for the band and ZZ Skippers.

Don loved being the center of attention, always willing to dress up, make people laugh and embarrass his kids and grandchildren. He always had a story to tell and was always there to lend a helping hand if he could.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Brent Prater; first wife, Patricia Darlene Prater; Brother, Herb Prater; daughter-in-law, Billie Prater; and Granddaughter-in-Law, Aimee Prater. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Prater; son, Waymon and wife, Gayle Prater from Rio Vista, Tx; Son, Daniel and wife, Kelly Prater from Grandview Tx; Daughter, Maurie and husband, Ronnie Yeoman from Burleson, Tx; Nine grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and with one more on the way.