C. C. Prater, 57, life-long Kittitas Valley resident and prominent Westside farmer, died here last night at the home of his sister, Mrs. Minnie Wangeman, after an illness of 10 weeks.
The son of pioneer valley settlers, he was born on the family farm on the Westside on December 15, 1881. He was married here to Miss Velma Weaver on November 14, 1906.
From his youth he took an active part in the activities of the community. Among the many responsibilities which he held at the time of his death were: Community Committeeman of the Kittitas County Conservation Association; Director of the Kittitas County Weed Control Board, and Director of the Ridgeway School District.
He was a life-long member of the Methodist Church, having helped to establish the early Cove Methodist Church which later became a part of the Ellensburg Parish. During much of his life he held positions on the administrative boards of the church and in the Sunday school.
In addition to his widow and sister, he is survived by two sons, Wendell of Ellensburg and Lowell, a senior at Washington State College; a daughter, Pauline of Ellensburg; and two other sisters, Mrs. J. M. Prater of the Westside and Mrs. Clara Noel of Tacoma.
Funeral services will be held in the Methodist Church, Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock under the direction of the Honeycutt Funeral Home. Interment will be in the family plot in the Thorp Cemetery. [Charles was the son of Charles Cornelius Janes and Sarah Hall. He took the name of Prater. I don’t believe he was legally adopted by Felix Prater.]
Ellensburg Daily Record, Front Page, November 17, 1939
Contributed by: Shelli Steedman
