Cover photo for Tanya Marie Pray's Obituary
Tanya Marie Pray Profile Photo

Tanya Marie Pray

July 2, 1972 — March 4, 2018

Tanya Marie Pray

Tanya Marie Pray, age 45, of Parkers Prairie, died unexpectedly, Sunday, March 4, 2018, at Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 11 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2018, at Folden Lutheran Church in rural Vining, with Rev. Rud Wasson officiating.  Music is provided by Melanie Koltes.  A private burial will take place at a later time.

A visitation will be 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Lind Family Funeral Home in Parkers Prairie and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Tanya was born July 2, 1972, to Lyle and Diane (Olson) Pray in Montevideo.  Her family lived in Clarkfield until moving to Parkers Prairie in 1976.  Tanya attended Parkers Prairie Public Schools and graduated in 1990.  She worked at St. Williams Living Center and the Parkers Bakery.  Following her education, she attended baking school in Willmar and worked as a baker for the Whitney Hotel in Minneapolis.  Tanya worked for Carlson Trucking in Parkers Prairie before moving to Mesa, Arizona where she drove truck for road construction.  Later she attended school for law enforcement and worked as a guard at one of the roughest prisons in Florence, Arizona.  She moved to Georgetown, Colorado where she was a deputy sheriff.  Following the 911 tragedy, Tanya returned home to be with her family.  She owned a restaurant in Millerville and worked for the Douglas County Jail as an officer.  Tanya worked for the Parkers Prairie Ambulance and her final job before ill health was as secretary for First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Parkers Prairie. Tanya loved life and her world was her daughters.  She enjoyed visiting, making jewelry, fishing, camping, swimming and baking in her healthier years. Music was very special to Tanya and Adele was one of her favorites, especially her song, “Angels Among Us”.  

She was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Carl Olson and paternal grandfather, Lloyd Pray.

Tanya is survived by her two beautiful daughters, Samantha Lynn and Eja Marie both of Parkers Prairie; parents, Lyle and Diane Pray of Parkers Prairie; two brothers, Brian Pray of Alexandria and Daren Pray of Vining; maternal grandmother, Ruby Olson of Montevideo; paternal grandmother, Lucille Pray of New London; two special nieces, Aaliyah and Ashleigh; and  many aunts, uncles and cousins. 

Urn bearers are Matthew Olson, Mark Olson, Derek Olson, and Devin Olson.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Tanya Marie Pray, please visit our flower store.

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