ROCHELLE — It was a long-lost relationship between a father and daughter who had not seen each other for over 40 years.

Through her happy tears, Charla Reynolds embraced her father, Charles Prather, for the first time since she was four years old. Prather, who lived and worked in Rochelle, now resides in a DeKalb nursing home.

Reynolds and her mother moved to Lubbock, Texas, losing all communication with her father. It was only after her mother’s recent death that her birth certificate was found, revealing her father’s name.

“I was telling my daughter’s boyfriend that I would like to find my birth dad,” Reynolds said, who is now a mother and grandmother, residing in South Dakota with her husband, Ed. “That started the search.”

Beginnings

A coincidence possibly, but a conversation between Prather and his brother, Bill, led to a hopeful wish. Bill and wife, Maxine, live in Rochelle.

“I was visiting Charlie (Prather) at the nursing home and he told me there’s one thing he hoped for. He said, ‘I would really like to speak with my daughter before I die’,” said Bill.

Bill said his brother, Charles, fell and broke his hip five years ago. Although undergoing surgeries, Bill said since the accident his brother “just hasn’t recovered wholly since.”

A family friend of Bill’s began their search, discovering seven people named Charla Prather living in the U.S. The search paths eventually crossed and after a little assurance from both sides that there was indeed a relation, Reynolds phoned her father.

“I had been talking to him on the phone, and he knew we were coming in August,” Reynolds said. “The plan was to surprise him for Father’s Day.”

Surprise

The scene over a week ago could have been something out of a movie. A carefully thought out plan between Bill and Reynolds had Prather waiting outside the nursing home, enjoying the sunshine, when Reynolds approached the family.

“I got out of the car and asked where I can find Charles Prather’s room,” Reynolds said, to which her father answered his room number without skipping a beat. “Bill stood up and said he was his brother, asking if he could help me with something. That’s when I said I am his daughter, and wished a Happy Father’s day.”

Hugs and tears ensued, making for a happy reunion just in time for Father’s Day.

Since then, the Reynolds have been visiting the nursing home in DeKalb frequently before they return to South Dakota. Plans are being made for a return trip with the whole Reynolds family, which includes Charla's and Ed’s three daughters and two granddaughters.

What makes this an abundant surprise, perhaps, is that Reynolds is Prather’s only child. The entire Prather family gained many blessings with the grandchildren and great-children. Another great-grandchild is on the way.

“I so hoped that they would find each other before he passed away. His health is very poor,” Bill said about his brother. “After I found out about Charla I was so excited…couldn’t wait to call her. I always dreamed this would happen some day — that we’d find Charlie’s daughter — and that we would find each other.

During the visits to the nursing home, the use of face-time phone technology has allowed Prather to see his grandchildren while talking to them many miles away.

Even though the search began after her mother died, Reynolds believes somehow the reunion was meant to be considering her birth certificate was remarkably left in a location easily found — lending the idea that her mother might have left it out purposely.

“I was so happy; I just never thought this day would come,” Reynolds said. “We will be talking on the phone with Dad quite a bit when we go back to home to South Dakota.”