1/9/79 – 1/18/26
Kris Prather, 47, daughter of Mike and Joan Prather, passed away in the early hours of Sunday, January 18, 2026 at her home in Missoula, Montana.
Kristal Kay Prather was born on January 9, 1979 in Missoula. She attended Florence-Carlton Elementary School. She moved to Stevensville with her family where she attended junior high and high school, graduating from Stevensville High School in 1997. Later she earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice.
Kris was sunshine. She never met a stranger. She was always giving hugs and saying something witty and funny. She wanted to make people happy. She was a free spirit and was full of heart, grit, and dreaming big. At a young age we had a little gal with big dreams, passion and determination. She set goals so big that we feared she might disappoint herself. But, she was an achiever.
In high school, she was a good student, MVP in soccer, Star Greenhand in FFA, 4-H Ambassador, projects of Beef Breeding, Horsemanship and Leadership. She was very accomplished. She loved horses and got her first horse, “Aglow,” at age 12 and the love affair began. After high school, Kris moved to Kentucky, where she worked on a Thoroughbred horse farm and at Keeneland Racetrack. There she exercised horses and met her heroes, female jockeys Julie Krone and Donna Barton Brothers. They helped train her and she was a natural. Kris excelled as a jockey and won many races, including Turfway Park Leading Rider, where she set a record for the most wins (86) in one meet. Her career took her all over the US, from New York to Churchill Downs, Kentucky Downs, Keeneland Park and Ellis Park in Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia and Washington State. She was considered a “phenom” in the racing world. Unfortunately, she sustained a serious shoulder injury that ended her career much too soon. Kris returned to Montana in 2008, where she could be close to family.
Kris was an accomplished artist, for which she had a lifelong passion. She also enjoyed writing and cooking, and spending time with her nephew Raylan. She had a soft spot for animals of all kinds. She had a special love for the music of Michael Jackson.
Kris was preceded in death by great-grandparents Ed and Mary Mikesell, maternal grandparents Don and Mary Lou Haley, paternal grandparents Elmer and Bernice Severson and Jack Prather, and uncles Ross (Jean) and David (Bev) Prather.
She is survived by her beloved canine companion, “Mister,” her parents Mike and Joan Prather of Stevensville, sister Kimberly (Craig) Culver and nephew Raylan Culver of Missoula, uncle Dan (Debbie) Severson of Stevensville, aunts Marcia Prather (Mark Sampson) of Santa Fe, NM, Gen Severson of Hillsboro, MO, Terry (Richard) Smith of Darby and Lori (Leif) Onsum of Stevensville, honorary aunt Kim Latrielle of Missoula, as well as numerous special cousins. Kris is also survived by special friends Frankie and Donna Brothers of Louisville, KY, and Gretchen Spiess of Stevensville.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 31 at 1:00 p.m. at Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville. Following the service, the family invites you to gather at the Methodist Church fellowship hall. Food will be provided. (If you wish to bring a side dish or dessert to share, please text Maureen at 406-369-4042.)
A private interment of Kris’s ashes will be held at a later date. Memorials in Kris’s name can be made to AniMeals or a local animal shelter of your choice.
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