In Memoriam - Helen Hughes Prater - 1912-2011

Helen Hughes Prater

How lucky we were to know Helen, "Hotfingers" Prater... I started calling her that after one of her Lafayette lobby sessions and thereafter included "Hotfingers" in addressing her mail, which she enjoyed. But what didn't Helen enjoy in life - and how much joy she gave to all us 'younguns' who often had a time keeping up with her.
1) Helen and her 90th birthday cake in Marietta September 1992(anybody still have that red coloring residue on their hands?)
2) Daughter Lil Smith, Helen, daughter-in-law Nancy and son Dick Prater
3) Helen playing Ted Guillaum's organ in 1993

more HHP pix

1) arrival at the Lafayette in the late 1990s: Dorothea Frye, Lil Smith, Helen Prater
2) Capt. Charles Henry Stone and Helen 2003
3) Helen boarding the VALLEY GEM for one of her favorite activities, a boat ride.

And MORE Adventures with Miss Helen...

(1) On the Texas deck of the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE with Capt. Roddy Hammett and his mother, Marguerite Hammett - En route to TALL STACKS - October, 1992.
(2) At the grand piano in the lobby of the Hotel Lafayette, S&D 1999, with Keith enjoying it to the max!
(3) Reveling in the Greene Line exhibit in the River Heritage Room of the Behringer-Crawford Museum, Covington, Kentucky - April, 1995.

What a privilege to have known Helen Prater. While we no longer have her here, she has gone to a better place to be with her other loved ones. She won't be doing too much resting there, either, I wouldn't think!

More River Ramblings with Miss Helen...

(1) Helen, Lil and Keith enjoying the Great Steamboat Race aboard the DELTA QUEEN, May, 2001.
(2) "Greene Line Gals" - Lifelong friends Helen and Ginny Bennett rockin' and rollin' on the river. DELTA QUEEN - Charleston Trip - 1998.
(3) Helen and Lil enjoy brunch in the dining room at Rock Hill (home of Capt. C.W. and Lucy Stoll) - October, 1993. Painting of the Str. ST. LAWRENCE in the background done by Capt. Jesse P. Hughes.

Helen at Tall Stacks 2006

1) Here are two real troopers: Lil and Helen having lunch on the outer deck of the NATCHEZ on a cool damp day. Helen was wearing a DQ shirt, a BELLE OF LOUISVILLE sweatshirt, and a NATCHEZ jacket.
2) up in the NATCHEZ gift shop: Judy, Helen and Lil. They were our best customers that day, not that they were lacking in steamboat memorabilia!

Keith Norrington;24936 wrote: It is with a heavy heart that I report the sad news of the passing, this afternoon, of Helen Hughes Prater. Known and loved by hundreds of river people, "Miss Helen" graciously touched many lives with her kindness, wit and warmth throughout her 98 years. The daughter of Capt. Jesse Paul Hughes and Telia Vaughan Hughes, she was born at Catlettsburg, Kentucky on the beautiful Ohio River that she came to love so much. She was happiest on the deck of a steamboat, or at the keyboard of a piano, where she brought joy to many with her gift of music.

It has been my great privilege and honor to have known "Miss Helen" since I was a teenager. From the first time I met her, over four decades ago, she was one of those river people who were always more than happy to give and her friendship and love greatly enriched my life. To me, she was like the "Energizer Bunny", who kept on going no matter what adversity came her way. Indeed, she was an inspiration to all who were privileged to know her and be counted among her multitude of friends.

Miss Helen was preceded in death by her parents, husband Col. Burnice E. Prater (1988), son Robert H. Prater (2001), and sister Lillian Hughes (1938) who was hostess on the Str. GORDON C. GREENE. She is survived by son Richard H. Prater (Nancy), daughter Lillian Prater Smith (Forrest), eight grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Dick Prater asked me to convey that an announcement will be made at a later date concerning a memorial service, which will take place in Louisville at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

A long and loud whistle salute to Helen Hughes Prater, truly a grand lady of the river!

Images:
(1) Miss Helen aboard the DQ with (left) Dick & Nancy Prater and Forrest & Lillian Prater Smith
(2) "On deck" aboard the DQ.
(3) Miss Helen with her beloved DELTA QUEEN - Madison, Indiana - 1993

Oh my, what a sad day. She will be so sorely missed, was already sorely missed by her recent absence at Marietta last fall. If there's a heavenly steamboat somewhere, she's on it.

Thanks Keith for sharing the news. Oddly enough I just wrote Lil a note this morning about a recent visit to the DELTA QUEEN, and of course, asking for her to tell Ms. Helen hi from a river rat. Guess I'll not mail that card. Ms. Helen certainly did enrich many lives. She will be greatly missed. The family can rest assured she will be remembered at our "reunion" the end of this month when many of us will be on the DELTA QUEEN.

*RE: Helen Hughes Prater*
Dear friends:
Keith, I am bereft with the news of Helen's passing. The photos above are wonderful and thanks for posting them. There's nothing I can say and I'll sign off. I 'sensed' last week I was headed for another 'series of three' deaths and this proves that inner sense correct. More in time. Keep us posted.

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

Thank you Jo Ann. I know Miss Helen would be pleased and proud to have her steamboat friends pay tribute to her during the DQ reunion festivities. Meanwhile, herewith is a photo that I'm sure will have special meaning for you - Miss Helen resting on the front porch overlooking the river at Cedar Farm, when the MOR S&D chapter met there in October, 1997.

Images:
(1) Watching the river roll by from the porch at Cedar Farm - October, 1997.
(2) On deck aboard the BELLE of LOUISVILLE - October 1993 - In the background are the late Joan Spear and Betty Striegel.
(3) Conversing on the porch at Rock Hill with good friend Lucy Stoll - October, 1996.

My deepest sympathy to the family of Helen Hughes Prather and all who loved her. Miss Helen was always gracious to me, and I appreciated the compliment from such a fine lady.

Helen Prater greatly enriched everyone's life she touched, and in my sadness at her passing, I am feeling grateful to have had the honor of the friendship of this wonderful woman. Dick, Nancy, Lil, Forrest, please accept Diane's and my deepest sympathy.

During my visit to the Delta Queen in Chattanooga later this month, I will offer a special rendition of Kitten on the Keys to my favorite fellow ivory tickler. Rest in peace, dear friend Helen.

Our deepest sympathy to the Prater family!! I´m feeling privileged to have had the honor of meeting Helen once with her daughter Lil!

Carmen, Franz and Leonie

My sympathies to Miss Helen's family. I was privileged to know her--what a lady! It is difficult to hear of her passing. Mary

What sad news to start out this rainy Monday morning. However, Miss Helen was always a bright spot in anyone’s day if you got to spend any time with her. I will never forget my first time to meet Miss Helen was at an S&D meeting where I unknowingly was sitting beside the piano in the lobby when “Hot Fingers” sat down and gave one of her famous after dinner recitals. What a joy!! And don’t forget, she was also a “Certified Organ Grinder” as well as a Steamboater Extraordinaire. Bless you Miss Helen and your family.

Well said Ted! It is an understatement to say that Miss Helen brought joy to those around her with her enthusiastic and upbeat spirit. And when she sat down at the piano...well it just brought a totally festive atmosphere to the room! I remember at some S&D meetings when people who were not S&D'rs joined the crowd in the hotel lobby just to hear Miss Helen preside at the piano.

Miss Helen had formal music lessons and Dick said he remembers her playing classical works, although she most enjoyed playing tunes that were popular with passengers on the Greene Line boats where she entertained as a youngster. Miss Helen's mother, Telia, and sister Lillian, both served as organist in the Methodist Church at Catlettsburg, playing the Moller pipe organ. Placques are on the wall today regarding their service to the church.

Undoubtedly, Miss Helen, surrounded by a choir of angels, is making heavenly music today!

Images:
(1) Entertaining at her 90th birthday party as Judy films - 2002
(2) After the S&D banquet - 2002
(3) Miss Helen in concert, seen through the hotel lobby plants as Lil looks on - 2003

Sympathy

Although I never met Miss Helen, she seems very special to all of my dot org friends, and so I send my sympathy to each of you, and her family, on the occasion of her passing.

Wesley

Thank you for your kind thoughts Wesley. Indeed, Miss Helen was VERY special to many of us, and I am so sorry you never had the opportunity to meet her. Miss Helen dearly loved her "river family" and her passing is going to leave an empty space in many hearts.

Images:
(1) Capt. Roddy Hammett, Capt. Lexie Palmore, Miss Helen and Ann Zeiger - S&D 1977. Lex is now the sole survivor of this august group.
(2) Miss Helen making a point aboard the BELLE to Keith and his parents on a charter cruise for the Howard Steamboat Museum - October, 1994.
(3) Judy Patsch gets a big hug from Miss Helen at her 90th birthday party - 2002.

Deb and I were blessed with finally meeting Mom...I will forever remember the laugh at the piano, the AQ in December, after her enjoying corn mash on ice (medicinal purposes only, of course)...

There was only one Helen, and thank Gawd we were lucky enough to be there...

We're truly sympathetic and sorrowful to the family and hope to see her again some day...

Thanks so much Keith for sharing the picture at Cedar Farm. Whenever, I would run into Helen and Lil on the DQ at the beginning of a trip Lil would always remind Helen what a wonderful time they had at the MOR meeting, the day at Cedar Farm and the rest of the week when they "hold up" at Otter Creek Park overlooking Cedar Farm. Miss Helen has given us all wonderful memories. She is what "steamboatin'" is all about.

The steamboating world has lost a great person in the inimitable Miss Helen Hughes Prater. She was a living link to the things we hold so dear. Even more than that she was a special person who was so open with her gifts to us. Her music filled the Texas Lounge of the DELTA QUEEN as it has on her sister vessels before her the TOM, CHRIS, and GORDON. Her knowledge of the history of steamboating was unique, as she actually lived it as a family member. She grew up knowing steamboats as a way of life as her family were so involved.

What I will miss the most is the person. I remember her playing in the Texas Lounge when she wasn't busy doing other things, talking to passengers about the history of the company(s) the boat, and her predecessors. She would come to my talks about the history of the boat and sit through the whole thing transfixed at the same story every time. She told me once, "I come to make sure you are doing it right. She didn't mean it maliciously...it was a compliment. On one trip in late 2004 she came up to the calliope and played "Goodbye Little Girl, Good Bye" just as she remembered Homer Denney playing it on the ISLAND QUEEN. We discussed this in length the night before in the Forward Cabin Lounge after dinner. She wanted me to hear it as he did it...I video taped this special moment. Years later I would get a recording of Mr. Denney playing it....would you believe it? She played it exactly, as if a live recording of him doing it.

The moment I remember with her the most was in 2007 on the DELTA QUEEN at Chattanooga, TN. She and her beautiful (and also very talented...the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in their family at all!) daughter Lil had just come aboard for a week long cruise and I was holed up with a reporter in the Forward Cabin Lounge who was there to do a story on the recently announced "Final Season". They had no more than ascended the stairs when I asked Miss Helen if she could tell the reporter a few things. Miss Helen immediately sat down and after the formality of introductions was over she launched into a diatribe that started with..."I am just so happy to be here, on this boat".

My regret is the knowledge I have of her Lil, her son Dick and his lovely wife Nancy and their families being aboard the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE several times in my career there. Although I knew they were there, I never made the connection, nor did I take the time to introduce myself. So many wonderful times with great people missed.

I can't even begin to put into words my condolences to Lil and her husband Forrest and their families, and Dick and Nancy and their families. The loss for them must be unbelievable...for they know just what a great person she was first hand...more than any of us here. My heart goes out to them all.

One long and two shorts in Miss Helen's honor. Something tells me she is in the lounge of that great steamboat in the sky favoring the lucky guests there with some beautiful music....just as it should be!

Sincere sympathies on behalf of my parents & myself to all in the Prater family...

Will the memorial service also be an internment? Or is the actual funeral taking place somewhere else? Will there be an obit in a Colorado newspaper? Whatever you can find out would be appreciated.

Lex: It is my understanding that Miss Helen chose cremation and her request was that a portion of her ashes be scattered into the Ohio at Catlettsburg, where she was born, and the remainder interred next to her husband, Col. B.E. Prater, in the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery here at Louisville. When Dick phoned me on Sunday afternoon, he said that, while no definite plans have been made, a memorial service will be held at the time of the interment, which could be summer or possibly early fall. There will be plenty of advance notice for those who wish to attend.