Nathilea Prather

Nathilea Sisk Brinkley Prather, 98, of Equality, passed away at 9:50 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Fountain View Nursing Home in Eldorado. Nathilea was born in Junction on December 2, 1912, the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wood) Sisk. She was a lifelong resident of Equality until she moved to Fountain View four years ago. Her long relationship with the Equality Social Brethren Church, of which she was one of the earliest members, helped shape who she was as a person. She was deeply devoted to the church, supported all its activities and considered it a community in which all the members looked out for each other. She was the widow of Henry Clifford Brinkley, who died in 1979, and later of Earl Richard "Doc" Prather, who died in 2005. Mrs. Prather is survived by a son, Dr. Sam (Linda) Brinkley of E. Alton, and a daughter, Joyce (Leonard) Baldyga of Arlington, VA; grandchildren, Rebecca (John) Hegger of Jonesboro, AR, Tim (Marissa) Brinkley of Miami, FL, Georgie (Scott) Kriss of Ann Arborm MI, Jerry (Susan) Brinkley of Brazil, IN, John (Robin) Brinkley of Mooresville, IN, Jeff (Stacy) Brinkley of Martinsville, IN, Jill (Tom) Hudson of Bloomington, IN, Jason (Mary) Brinkley of Newnan, GA,Tommy Brinkley, Natalya (Ryan Wheeler) Baldyga of Medford, MA, Sarah Baldyga, Bar Harbor, ME; great-grandchildren, Johnny, Betsy and Lily Hegger, Luke and Ansley Kriss, Ashley (Brian) Meeks, Austin Brinkley, Carson and Griffin Brinkley, Christopher (Hannah) Hudson, Josh Biggerstaff, Hayden and Kendall Brinkley, Leo Wheeler Baldyga; and two great-great-grandchildren, Tristan Meeks and Lane Hudson. Other survivors include a brother,Thomas N. (Pin) Sisk of Tucson, AZ, and a sister, Thelma DeLost of Canton, IL, plus a large number of cousins, nieces and nephews and friends. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Jerry C. Brinkley, daughter-in-law Bonnie Hise, 6 brothers, Cecil, Bill, Carroll, Jess, Jewell, and Herbert Sisk; seven sisters, Helen Hibbs, Beulah Wyant, Peggy Sisk, Nigel Sisk and triplet infant sisters, Marion, Loetta and Theresa Sisk. Nathilea was widely known throughout the area, as she had made many friends, during the course of her life, not only in Equality but in surrounding towns, as well. She was "Granny" to her grandchildren, "Nap" or "Aunt Nap" to her family and friends. She was lucky to have lived a long life, free of any major illness and remained particularly active and energetic into her 90s. She is remembered by many people in several counties for her dedication to her husbands' care during their long tenures in nursing homes. She was an independent spirit, an excellent driver who relinquished her driver's license at the age of 94 only when she moved to Fountain View. She not only was admired and loved for her commitment to others, her easy laugh and sociability, but the single most astonishing thing about Nathilea was the vast amount of information stored in her head, ready to be called up when the need arose. Upon meeting a stranger, after a few minutes she would discover they shared a friend or relative from some distant past, and she would proceed to tell the stranger more about his family history than he himself was aware of. No bit of information was minute enough not to be brought forth and presented in great detail to the listener. She continued these interchanges with residents and staff at Fountain View as long as she was able to do so. In short, she was many things to many people and fond memories of her will remain with them. Visitation for Nathilea will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2, and funeral services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Vickery Funeral Chapel in Equality. The Rev. Bill Jones will officiate. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, Equality. Memorials may be made to the Equality Social Brethren Church or to the Fountain View Activities Fund. Internet condolences may be made at the website, www.vickeryfuneralchapel.com