Minnie I. Prouty, 83, of Mercer Road, Norwich and West Lafayette, died at 11:40AM Saturday May 26, 2007 at the West Lafayette Care Center. Mrs. Prouty was born November 25, 1923, one of sixteen children born to the late Matthew David and Bertha Agnes (Wilcox) Gress. A life-long area resident, she enjoyed painting and bowling and was a member of several Coshocton area leagues for many years. She was a former member of the Highland Grange and the Farm Bureau. For 25 years she volunteered at Bethesda Hospital and also volunteered at Beckett House in New Concord and the West Lafayette Care Center. She had been a long time member of Fairview Community Church in Adamsville where she had taught Sunday School and Bible School and transferred her church membership in 2001 to the West Lafayette U. Methodist Church. Surviving are her brother, Robert A. (Edith) Gress of Plainfield and a sister, Ruth Miller of Canton; many nieces and nephews and a special friend, Linda Tucker of West Lafayette. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Donald Eugene Prouty in 1973; brothers, Charles, George, Elda, Raymond, Sam, Clarence and Bill Gress and her sisters, Evelyn Reese, Verdella Emler, Anna Alloway, Clarabelle Bissonnette, Mildred Gress and Alta Gress. Friends may call 5-8PM Wednesday May 30, 2007 at the Vensil-Orr & Chute Funeral Home in Adamsville, where services will be held at 11AM Thursday with Pastor Jim Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Fairview Community Church, c/o Ron Sarbaugh, 8565 Sarbaugh Rd., Norwich, OH 443767 or the West Lafayette U. Methodist Church.