Obituary of Virl Virginia Prayther

Virl Virginia Hyman was born on April 26, 1930, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. She was the daughter of Sam and Janie (Crocker) Hyman.

At 9:10am on March 24, 1946, in Laurens County, South Carolina, Virl married the love of her life, Waverly Larkin Prayther and together the couple was blessed with two sons and two daughters. To help provide for her family Virl worked more than twenty years as a cook for Mason Consolidated Schools until her retirement in 1990. 

Virl loved spending time outside in her garden tending to her roses.  She enjoyed cooking and made sure that no one ever left her home hungry.  Guests often craved her chili and biscuits and gravy.  She was a wonderful baker, making delicious chocolate cream and lemon meringue pies, peach cobbler, and pineapple upside down cake.

Virl was the most caring person and there was nothing in this world she loved more than her children and grandchildren.  She loved them so much she knew how important it was to discipline them when they misbehaved.  On many occasions she sent them out in search of the proper “switch” and if the one they presented wasn’t to her liking she then found one on her own.  It was said that she might play favorites being particularly protective of her granddaughters.  One thing that was certain, no matter what the activity performed, Virl was sure to be enjoying a hearty pinch of her favorite, Garrett snuff.

Virl Virginia Prayther, age 94 of Luna Pier, Michigan passed away on Monday; June 10, 2024, at her home surrounded by family and under the care of Heartland Hospice. Her passing was preceded by her parents: Sam and Janie Hyman; her husband: Waverly Prayther; a son: Ralph Prayther; two daughters: Vicki Witfoth and Sybil Carter; a grandson: Timothy Prayther; her brothers; a son-in-law: Charles Witfoth; and a daughter in law: Darlene Prayther.

To cherish Virl’s memory she leaves a son: Roger Prayther of Erie, Michigan; ten grandchildren: Roger (Joyce) Prayther, Danny (Rhonda) Carter, Danielle (Matthew) Prayther, Bryan (Mindy) Carter, Roxanne (Larry) Smith, Michelle (Bob) Dilts, Chuckie (Tammy) Witfoth, Tammy Carter, Catherine (Scott) Clark, and Jackie Swanson; twenty-one great grandchildren; and numerous great-great grandchildren.

Friends may gather from 11:00am until 1:00pm on Monday; June 17, 2024, at Merkle Funeral Service, Erie, 9156 Summit Street, Erie, Michigan 48133 (734) 317-7199.  A Celebration of Virl’s Life will be held at 1:00pm also at Merkle’s with Pastor BJ McDaniel of One-Way Christian Fellowship Church officiating.  A procession will follow to Roselawn Memorial Park in LaSalle for burial.

Online guests may leave words of inspiration and comfort or share a photo by visiting www.merklefs.com.