Raymond A. Prater

Raymond A. “Ray” Prater, 82, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 at McLeod Seacoast Hospital with his family by his side. Born in Hippo, KY, Ray was a son of the late Otis and Katie Bailey Prater. He was the loving and devoted husband of Dolly Prater.

Ray earned a college scholarship for playing basketball after graduating from Maytown High School in Floyd County Kentucky but ultimately joined the air force shortly after high school graduation. He was stationed in both Tripoli, Libya and then Arlington, Virginia where he stayed following his service. It is there he met Dolly and then moved to the newly developing suburb of Sterling Park, Virginia and raised his family. He became a leader in the community founding the first boy’s recreational basketball league in Sterling Park in 1973 and later adding a program for girls as well. He was an active board member for both youth football and baseball, as well as the local high school sports booster program. Ray loved basketball having played it not only in high school but also on the Air Force base travel teams and later men’s leagues in Northern Virginia. He coached at both the youth and high school level as well as officiated the sport for many years. He “bled blue” for his beloved Kentucky Wildcats basketball team and passed the love of the sport and school on to his children and grandchildren.

Ray changed careers from the insurance industry to the golf industry in 1977 taking over the management of Sterling Golf, Swim, and Tennis club until retiring in 1992. Ray and Dolly then made South Carolina their home living in the North Myrtle Beach area. After moving to the beach, he worked for years at Buck Creek Golf Course and the Dunes Club in their Pro Shops allowing him to continue enjoying the golf business without the worries that come with management. During the past 18 years he worked for LifeQuest where his outgoing personality, sense of humor, and zest for life was a staple of the gym for all members that knew and loved him.

Surviving is his wife of 56 years, Dolly; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jean Prater; daughter and son-in-law, Traci and Andy Hersey; four grandchildren, Amanda Prater (Jesse Howe), Zachary Prater (Emily), John “Jack” Hersey, William Hersey; three great-grandchildren, Hayden Prater, Audrey Howe and Andrew Prater, He is also survived by three brothers, Otis Prater, Jr., John Prater, Haskell Prater and two sisters, Minnie Conley and Augusta Prater. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Dillard Prater, Curtis Prater; and two sisters, Norma Boone and Gloria Jean Prater.

Memorials may be made to the Livingston Scholarship Fund C/O Livingston Family, P.O. Box 93, Little River, SC 29566.

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