Oralea Mathis

Oralea P. Mathis, 76, of Cape Girardeau died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born June 11, 1935, in Zalma, Mo., to William McKinley and Ora Jane Moore Prater. She and Billie Gene Mathis were married Sept. 4, 1954, at Marble Hill, Mo. He died March 30, 1999.

Oralea was a graduate of Lutesville High School. She and her husband were self-employed insurance agents and brokers in St. Robert, Mo. She was a GED teacher several years and also worked at FISH Food Pantry in Cape Girardeau.

She was very active at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau and Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary in Waynesville, Mo. She enjoyed traveling with her husband.

Survivors include a son, Ronald (Victoria) Mathis of Springfield, Mo.; a daughter, Joy (Wayne) Ellington of Springdale, Ark.; three brothers, Raymond Prater of Oregon, Herbert Prater of Virginia, Jerry Prater of Robertsville, Mo.; a sister, Lucille James of Marble Hill; three grandchildren, Nathaniel Mathis, Jonathan Mathis, Gary Ellington; two great-grandchildren, Natalie and Avery Mathis; and numerous extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Michael Lynn Mathis; six brothers and sisters.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Kevin Coffee officiating. Burial will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, with a committal service at 2:15 p.m. Friday.

Memorial contributions may be given to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.