Mary Ellen Moo Gilland-Prater, 85, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday January 4, 2018, at Mosaic Hospital with her family at her side.
She was born on September 19, 1932 to the late Dewey L. and Edna Mae (Dickerson) Gilland, in DeKalb, Missouri, and lived there until the age of six when the family moved to Allendale, Missouri.
She attended school in Allendale and Grant City, Missouri, the two places she always considered home, along with her current residence which she has lived for 66 years.
Mary Ellen married J.D. Prater in 1951, and after 41 1/2 years, divorced but remained very close until his passing in 1992.
Mary Ellen worked at the hot dog counter at Kresges, then worked at the Snow White Restaurant, and retired from Perkins Restaurant after 17 years in 1995.
She was the first recipient of the St Joseph Chamber of Commerce Most Friendly Award.
Mary Ellen loved her family, and was the best mom and grandmother, called Moo. She was always there to help the kids when needed.
She loved outdoors, plants, and watching the fish in her Koi Pond. She also did ceramics and enjoyed working puzzles. She had an infectious laugh, but could be a little ornery, stubborn, and very opinionated.
Mary Ellen and her daughter, Mary Dale Colwell, were very close, and you seldom saw one without the other, and often could hear them laughing before you saw them. Her grandson, Jeff, and great- grandson, Jordan, whom she helped raise, were her greatest joy, and she cherished them with all her heart.
Mary was preceded in death by: her parents; brother, George Dewey Gilland; sisters, Pat Hall, and Naomi Williams.
She is survived by: daughter, Mary Dale (Joe) Colwell; grandson, Jeff (Rachael) Hamilton; great- grandson, Jordan (Ashley) Hamilton; and a great- granddaughter, Maddy Hamilton; brother, Jon Quentin Gilland, Albuquerque, New Mexico; cousin, Barb Mae Smith, St. Joseph; cousin, Johnny (Kandra) Dickerson, of Des Moines, Iowa; along with a host of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held January 9th at St Joseph, MO. Internment was at the Agency Cemetery in Agency, MO.
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