Benjamin "Prater" Monning, III

Benjamin Prater Monning, III (Prater) passed away peacefully on October 26 after a brief illness. He was at his home in Wills Point, in his library, surrounded by family.

Prater was born on May 24, 1951 in Dallas to Irma Adele Wynne and Benjamin Prater Monning, Jr. He grew up in Amarillo but spent summers in Wills Point where he learned to ride, fish, and work cattle from an early age. Many of the life lessons he learned working alongside Rabbit and the other cowboys shaped his character and instilled in him respect for all he encountered. In high school, he played guard for his beloved Amarillo Sandies and was the recipient of the inaugural Mike Dewlen Memorial Award in 1969.

Prater graduated from Southern Methodist University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He earned his J.D. at SMU School of Law, where he served as editor of the Southwestern Law Journal and as Lord Chief Baron of the Order of Barristers. Before entering private practice, he served as law clerk to Hon. James G. Denton of the Texas Supreme Court. Prater began his legal career with Wynne & Jaffe, which became Gardere & Wynne. He then formed Monning & Wynne with his brother and cousin. In 2011, he left Dallas to practice in Wills Point at Wynne & Wynne, a firm established by his family in 1877, where he worked until his recent illness. He mentored many young lawyers, both in private practice and through his years of service to the Dallas Bar Association’s Mock Trial Competition.

He was a man of myriad passions and talents that edged toward arcane. He was a builder of harpsichords, fly rods, and furniture, and a mender of motors, fences, or anything else that had the audacity to break in his presence. He loved sailing, reading, cycling, fly fishing, and communing with his many animals. His later-in-life passion for the cello led to his service on the board of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra.

Prater was often called upon to solve complicated legal problems that stumped others, and he relished the opportunity to apply esoteric case law and legal principles. His ability to recall applicable case law from memory was a known parlor trick. It was his honor to serve clients and friends regardless of circumstances and through the years his efforts netted him legal fees in the form of everything from tomatoes and greens to homemade pickles and quilts; gifts that were cherished.

In Dallas, Prater was a member of Highland Park Presbyterian Church. Upon moving to Wills Point, he attended Russell Memorial United Methodist Church where he had recently joined the choir. He lived out his faith in the service of others without expectation of praise.

Prater is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Nancy White Monning, his daughter, Shelby Monning Patterson, her husband Nick Patterson and their daughter Alice Kathryn Patterson, and his sons, Benjamin Prater Monning IV, and Arthur Christopher Monning; brother Wright Bruce Monning; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Buck Wynne Monning.

Prater’s family gratefully acknowledges the loving support of caregivers, life-long friends and family in recent months.

A service of remembrance will be held on Tuesday, November 1 at 3:00 p.m. at Russell Memorial United Methodist Church, 201 S 4th Street in Wills Point. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Wills Point ISD Education Foundation: 338 W North Commerce St, Wills Point, Texas 75169. Services are under the direction of Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home.

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