Teresa J. Prater, beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and cousin, passed away peacefully on September 30th, 2026.

Teresa was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly and Hayward Thomas Jr.; her favorite Aunt Jerri Harter; her beloved cousins, Bill Harter, Lynda Newhouse, Karen Piner; and her friends, Connie Harter, Jan and Dave Webb. She is survived by her devoted sons; Justin and Brooks Prater; her daughter-in-law, Larina Abrina; and her granddaughter, Aliya Abrina. She also leaves behind her two loving sisters, Brenda Lorance (James) and Debra Spriggs (Dennis); her favorite nephew, Ryan Pokorny (Ashley); her nieces; Brandy Adams (Frankie), Amber Kimble (Mike), Ashley Aldridge (Garrick), and Caitlyn McCown (Troy); her dear cousin, Kathy Calamusa; along with many other cousins throughout the family; and lifelong friends including, Kandy Persinger (Jeff), Alice Duke, and Gail Penrod.

Throughout her life’s journey, Teresa brought her strong work ethic and vibrant personality to many places. She worked at Prestige Portraits, Carter Express, and had the wonderful opportunity to pursue a career in Nashville, Tennessee with UPS, where she loved the weather and made many memories. During her time in Tennessee, she was incredibly grateful to her close friend, Cally West, who opened her home to her. Teresa helped take care of Johnny West and loved doing so. Teresa was known for being mischievous in her earlier years, a playful spirit that followed her throughout her life. She loved playing cards, board games, and spending time with her family. She was an avid EQ player and thoroughly enjoyed both euchre and poker nights. Always ready with a story, a quick wit, or a sharp joke, Teresa used that fierce, unyielding spirit to fight her way through numerous battles. She was a courageous cancer survivor (melanoma/skin) and was actively undergoing treatment for lung cancer. She also spent several years going to dialysis at US Renal, where the staff and patients quickly fell in love with her unforgettable spitfire personality. Teresa’s family would like to extend their deepest thanks to everyone, from the dedicated nurses and doctors to friends and family for the immense love, dedication, support, and care she was shown throughout the years. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Teresa's name to The Little Red Door, any cancer donation center, or your favorite charity.

A Remembrance of Life Ceremony will be held at a later date.