Lloyd Franklin Prater

LLOYD FRANKLIN PRATER, formerly of North Little Rock, Ark., passed away Dec. 18, 2014, in Springfield, Mo. He had been living in Springfield for the past 18 months under his daughter's care. Lloyd was born on May 23, 1922 in Cabot, Ark. to George and Norma White Prater. After attending school in Oak Grove and North Little Rock High, he joined the United States Navy in 1942 during World War II. He served on the U.S.S. Buckley in the Atlantic and experienced combat action against German Submarines. After leaving the Navy in 1946, Lloyd worked briefly in Little Rock before beginning a thirty-two year career with the VA Hospital in North Little Rock. There he served as a firefighter until retirement in 1978. After retirement, he continued serving as a volunteer Fire Chief at the Oak Grove Fire Department for another twenty-five years of fire service. He was honored to have one of the Oak Grove Fire Stations named after him. He also served the Governor's Office as Chairman of the State Fire Protection Service Board as well as being a long time member of the Rural and Volunteer Firefighter Fighter's Association. He was a member of the National Association of retired Federal Employees and served as an officer in that organization. Lloyd was active in the Little Rock Shrine. He was a sixty-six member of the Crescent Lodge, Royal Order of Jesters, Shrine Clown Unit, Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, the Royal Order of Scotland, Order of Eastern Star of Arkansas Florence Chapter and Bendemeer of Little Rock. He enjoyed serving his community in many ways, including for many years as Santa to area school children. He was honored for his community service by receiving the Prater Award for Community Service, an ongoing yearly award from the State Fire Protection Board given in his name. Lloyd is preceded in death by his wife, Irene Thompson Prater. They were married on August 16, 1946 and enjoyed 57 years of marriage until her death in 2003. His sister, Claudine and two brothers, Louie and Treber also preceded him in death. Lloyd is survived by his daughter, Frances Chism and her husband Bill of Springfield, Mo.; two grandsons, Brent and his wife Ashlee of Frisco, Texas, Kevin and his wife Jennifer of Searcy, Ark.; nine great grandchildren, Will, Alexis, Aaron, Sam, Eli, Isaac, MacArthur, Benjamin and Emma; brother, Floyd Prater of North Little Rock, Ark.; as well as two sisters-in-law, Lorene Prater of North Little Rock, Ark. and Thelma Prater of Oklahoma. Services will be Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. at Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct. (NW corner I-630 and Barrow Rd.), followed by interment with Military Honors at Sumner Cemetery at Jacksonville. Visitation is at 1 p.m. preceding the service. Memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 3100 Samford Ave, Shreveport, La. 71103. Lloyd lead a blessed life and will be missed greatly. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, (501)224-2200. Mr. Prater's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.