Elizabeth Prather

Prather, Ph.D., Elizabeth (Moodie) Age 84 Elizabeth Moodie Prather passed away peacefully on September 17, 2014 from kidney failure at her home surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband, Bill, after 55 years of marriage. She was born in West Point, Nebraska on March 14, 1930 where she grew up. She was a third generation Nebraskan and the daughter of attorney, Robert R. Moodie and Clara Dickerson Moodie. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and her M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Speech Pathology from the University of Iowa. Elizabeth was a research associate at the University of Iowa and then Professor of Speech and Hearing Science specializing in child language development at the University of Washington from 1964-1976 and later at Arizona State University from 1978-1991. She retired as Emeritus Professor from ASU in 1991 and was active in the Emeritus College from that date. She received the Honors of both the Washington and Arizona Speech and Hearing Associations and was elected Fellow of the American Speech-Hearing-Language Association. She was the author of many scientific articles, a popular guest lecturer at other universities and professional organizations, and is well-known for her co-authorship of the Sequenced Inventory of Language Development (SICD), a nationally recognized test for preschool children from birth through age four. She later helped translate the test into Yupik for Eskimos in Alaska, where she was a consultant for several years. For over 63 years she was a member of PEO, a national philanthropic organization devoted to supporting higher education for women. Elizabeth was thoroughly devoted to her family and a gentle, gracious soul who was a blessing to all who knew her. In addition to her husband, she is survived by two children, Ann Foster (Wendell) of Pasadena, CA, and Tom Prather (Kris) of Falcon Heights, MN, and four grandchildren, Claire and Kevin Foster and Ben and Dan Prather, brother, Robert "Dick" Moodie of West Point, Nebraska. Her parents and sister, Mary Wood, predeceased her. MEMORIAL SERVICES will be held on Saturday, October 4 at 2pm at Beatitudes Campus Life Center, 1610 W Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AZ. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her honor are suggested to the Beatitudes Campus Foundation, 1610 W Glendale Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85021, or Hospice of the Valley.