Essie Prather Fox

Essie Prather Fox, age 88, of Murphysboro, passed away at her daughter's home in Murphysboro, Illinois, at 8:43 p.m. Monday, May 4, 2009. A Celebration of Her Life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 7, 2009, at Pettett Funeral Home with Rev. Paul Hicks officiating and burial at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois, Inc. Essie was born on June 7, 1920, in Grand Tower, Illinois, to Sherman Mitchell and Fronia (Rieger) Mitchell. She was a licensed practical nurse at St. Joseph Hospital. She was very dedicated to her career and to her patients by serving them as a real care-giver and deeply caring for her patients. While she was working at St. Joseph Hospital, she acquired her credentials to become a Respiratory Therapy Technician. Then she became the director of Respiratory Therapy at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin, where she retired in 1982. From 1985 to 1987, she was a housemother for the Sigma Kappa Soriety at SIU-C. Essie was even more dedicated to her family. She was a very loving mother, grandmother, and a great friend. She was a wonderful cook and she loved to have family gatherings. But her most important gift was that she was a prayer warrior for her family and friends. Mrs. Fox attended Murdale Baptist Church in Carbondale, where she was a member of the Senior Ladies Class. Essie married Murvin Ray Prather on May 9, 1936, and he preceded her in death on June 23, 1984. She later married Everett Fox in September of 1987, and he preceded her in death in August of 1995. She is survived by four children and their spouses Janice and William Holloway of Murphysboro, Joyce and Carl William Piper of Dixon, John and Robin Prather of Roseburg, OR, and James and Marcia Prather of Las Vegas, NV; ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one daughter Jolene Prather, one daughter in law Peggy Prather, three brothers Harold, Leroy and Paul Mitchell, four sisters Irene Chaney, Ruby Weber, Rosemary Crain, Lucille Roberts, a twin sister Bessie Mitchell, two infant sisters Jessie and Elizabeth Mitchell, and her parents. Condolences may be left for the family at www.pettettfuneralhome.com.

Essie Prather Fox

June 20, 1920 - May 4, 2009