Brenda Carol Briley

 It is with sadness and faithful hope that we announce Brenda Carol Briley, 73, has gone home to be with the Lord on May 2nd, 2026 in Austin, Texas. She was born on February 8th, 1953 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. She grew up in Indianapolis and graduated valedictorian from Decatur Central High school. She attended college later in life and achieved her Bachelor’s degree from IUPUI in Indianapolis in English in 2002. Her work history includes Pride Laundromat, Woolco, AFNB, Chase, and Kroger in Indianapolis, Homeschooling mother from 1980-2012, JC Penneys, University of Texas, and the IRS in Austin, Texas.  Brenda married Mark Tilson Prather in 1973 in Indianapolis. Brenda enjoyed studying, genealogy, sewing, travel, history, and her kids and grandkids.  Brenda settled in Creedmore, Texas for her retirement years. She attended Austin Bible Church in Austin, Texas. She had become a believer at Baptist Temple in Indianapolis in 1970 while attending with a friend from school.  She is survived by her children, Ryan Prather, Randy Prather, Kerri Hoffman, and Katie Prather; her brother, William Briley, and her grandchildren, Tyler, Andrew, Nivia, Eliana, Shawn, Gideon, Josiah, Cameron and Calisa Prather, Melia Storey, Kindall and Coen Bishop, Trinity, Clara, Elijah, Abigail, and Benjamin Hoffman and nieces and nephews and other relatives. Brenda was preceded in death by William Albert Sr. and Mildred Joyce Briley and Jaden Prather. Brenda was an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, always serving and encouraging and trying to better herself through learning. Her love for her family was unconditional, biological or otherwise and her caring heart will be missed by all who knew her.