Obituaries

Elizabeth “Libby” Theresa Prather, 96, passed away October 23, 2025 peacefully under the compassionate care of hospice in Mason, Ohio.

Born June 1, 1929, in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Libby was the only child of Andreas and Theresa Neu. During her young adult years, she met her husband, Lloyd Prather of Danville, Kentucky, while he was stationed in Augsburg with the U.S. Army. She later made the voyage to the United States to begin their life together and raise their family.

Libby and Lloyd established Prather’s Interior Decorating, where every piece of their work reflected their shared dedication to craftsmanship and beauty. Libby was a gifted artist whose favorite canvas were the walls of the homes she helped transform. If a wall in your home bears her paintbrush, it was likely her way of saying she loved you. If she refinished a piece of furniture for you, she really loved you. And her ability to barter for just about anything — with her famous jars of jam — was legendary, a lifelong talent that became part of her charm.

Libby and Lloyd raised their family in Reading, Ohio, before settling on Buttermilk Pike in Northern Kentucky, where she continued her lifelong passion for restoring forgotten furniture into remarkable works of art. She also took painting classes, re-caned chairs, and filled her home and yard with color, warmth, and laughter. Through the years, she shared her talents at the Richwood Flea Market and annual family yard sales, bartering and storytelling with friends old and new.

Her golden years were filled with the joy of her Scottish Terriers, who she famously “taught to talk,” tending to her thriving garden, chasing the occasional chipmunk who dared to trespass, and making friends with every dog that came to visit her by sharing her whipped cream.

Libby was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lloyd, and her parents. She is survived by her children Charley (Cheryl) Prather, Sharon Prather, Steve (Sheila) Prather, and Andrea (Chuck) Noland; her grandchildren Carey, Cortney, Carley, Laura, Megan, Kimberly, Joseph, Nicole, Karie, Jarad, and Andrew; and several great-grandchildren who will carry forward her spirit and humor.

Libby had a rare gift for making everyone she met feel special and welcome. She could make a friend anywhere, and her honesty—delivered with that unmistakable “German” straightforwardness—always came from the heart. Her smile was radiant, her wit sharp, and her presence instantly brightened a room.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Cincinnati Alzheimer’s Association and Plant a Tree for Arbor Day Foundation. A Celebration of Life will be held at Remington Room, Montgomery, OH, on November 7,2025 11 am to 4 pm.