Collins "Blue" Prater

Born in Wayne County on January 28, 1932, Collins “Blue” Prater was the youngest of William “Bill” and Laura Lue Griffin Prater’s 11 children. He was raised near beautiful Clifton, Tennessee, and attended the Rose School in Hardin County. At the age of 17, he proudly enlisted into active service in the United States Air Force after spending 1948-49 in the National Guard. Through his journey in the USAF from 1949-1953, he traveled extensively all over the world as an aircraft mechanic crew chief mainly working on B-29’s before being honorably discharged in October 1953 with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

After returning to Wayne County, Blue married his sweetheart, the former Dorothy Sue Lineberry on January 2, 1955. After briefly living in Chicago, they moved back to Clifton to the Happy Hollow and raised their four children: Jimmy, Terry, Greg, and Julie. The majority of Blue’s work life was spent at Vulcan Materials in both Parsons and Savannah, where he retired in 1997 after 31 years with Vulcan where he made many friends along the way. Blue and Dorothy Sue were blessed with a houseful of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even one great-great grandchild. He loved picking at them and watching them participate in sports and all the things they loved doing. If you were around him long enough, maybe at Halford’s Store on a Sunday morning, he was sure to let you know just how talented and special his grands were. Often seen sporting his classic red St. Louis Cardinals ball cap, he probably watched more of their games from his living room recliner than anyone in the history of baseball. And if the game wasn’t on tv, he listened on his vintage radio. He loved family gatherings when the house was full of kids, commotion, and food and held a special relationship with all of his grands. And you could bet he was going to offer you a chocolate dipped vanilla ice cream cone from the back freezer if you’d also pick one up for him. In his older years, he loved attending Veterans Day programs at the local schools with his great-grandchildren and would proudly wear his Korean Veteran cap. Blue passed away peacefully at his home on August 1, 2024, at the age of 92.

In addition to his wife of 69.5 years, Dorothy Sue, he is survived by his very special family that loved him dearly:

Son Jimmy Prater (Judy) of Waynesboro and children Heather Warren (Lynn) of Waynesboro and daughter Jaylee Warren; Daniel Prater of Waynesboro and children Dylan, Landyn, Lauren, Lesley Lou, Leaya, and Barrett Prater and Dylan’s son Andre Prater; and Patrick Dickey (Mendy) of Savannah and children Autumn and Ashlyn Dickey.

Daughter-in-law Debbie “Fickle” Prater of Dripping Springs, Texas, and children Amanda van Overbeek (Johannes) of Rogers, Arkansas; Kelly Thompson (Kyle) of Belton, Texas, and children Hayden, William, Olivia, and Emory Thompson; and Tracy Gray (A.J.) of Wimberley, Texas, and children Peyton, Jackson, and Kase Gray.

Son Greg Prater of Clifton and children Nick Prater (Brandi) of Clifton and sons Noah and Lucas Prater; Corey Prater (Lacy) of Goldsboro, North Carolina and children Conner, Jameson Blue, and Caroline; Roseanna Rodgers of Savannah, Rowenna Rodgers of Clifton, Talmadge Bradley of Columbia, and Rheanna Bradley of Savannah.

Daughter Julie Denton (Jimmy) of Clifton and children Emily Boersen (Rob) of Holland, Michigan and children Rylee, Ben, and Braelyn Boersen; and Colton Denton of Clifton.

In addition to his parents, Blue was preceded in death by son Terry William Prater; great-granddaughter Addison Thompson; daughter-in-law Debbie Prater; along with
his ten older siblings: Houston Prater, Roxie Conway, Elva Adams, Millard Prater, Pauline Free, Minnie Tatum, Boose Prater, Mary Milligan, Nellie Moran, and Tennie Prater.

Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Daniel Prater, Nick Prater, Corey Prater, Colton Denton, Dylan Prater, and Landyn Prater.

Visitation will be held Tuesday night, August 6, from 5-8 pm. Funeral services will be conducted by Brother Tracy Love on Wednesday, August 7, at 11 am, with visitation from 9-11 am. Both visitation and the funeral will be held at Bates-Love Funeral and Cremation Services in Waynesboro. Burial will immediately follow the funeral at Riverside Church Cemetery in Clifton.

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