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“Notes to Myself” author Hugh Prather’s memorial service today

by on Nov. 28, 2010, under Arts, Life

Hugh Prather, 72, died on November 15 here in Tucson. He was the well known author of a self-help book that sold 5 million copies, “Notes to Myself: My
Struggle to Become a Person”, pictured here.

book cover

I confess I am one of those 5 million people that purchased Hugh’s book and enjoyed it immensely, for its timeless existential thoughts and advice about love, relationships, self-esteem. I also own two others of Prather’s books, one being “I Touch the Earth, the Earth Touches me” (1972), and the other “Notes on Love and Courage” (1977).

A quote from Prather’s 1970 “Notes to Myself”:

When someone disagrees with me, I do not have to immediately start revising what I just said. People don’t want me to always agree with them. They can sense this is phony. They can sense I am trying to control them: I am agreeing with them to make them like me. They feel; “I don’t want to exist to like you. I DON’T exist to like you.”

Another Prather quote: “My trouble is I analyze life instead of live it.” And
“Unless I accept my faults I will most certainly doubt my virtues.”

Read more about Prather and his wife Gayle in the Arizona Daily Star’s article after he died (click here). Prather was born in Dallas, Texas and moved here with his wife in 1990. He died at home, apparently of a heart attack.

Memorial services will be held today at 3 p.m. at St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist church, 4625 E. River Rd. (NW corner of Swan). Phone: (520) 299-9063.

Rest in peace Hugh.

UPDATE: I just located via the internet, one more of my favorite Prather quotes:
“When I get to where I can enjoy just lying on the rug picking up lint balls, I will no longer be too ambitious.’’

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  • Carolyn Classen

    “Notes to Hugh” today– tributes from his friends Jerry and Diane,  his half-sister Joan, his wife Gayle, and Rev. David Wilkinson speaking of the measure of a person and of your lives,  the release to peace, being kind to all, doing your dreams,and Hugh’s quiet humility.The service started with mention of a beautiful rainbow to the east of Tucson, as Hugh was now “one with the rainbow.”   Many people were touched by Hugh’s writing and many books, couples’ classes, his lay ministry at St. Francis.  The program today included two songs, “Amazing Grace” and “Precious Lord, Take my Hand.”    Farewell Hugh, your words and person will be missed.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Finally located my 3rd Prather book, “Notes on Love and Courage”, and intend to re-read all 3 of them over the holidays.  I wish I had known that both Hugh and his wife Gayle had moved to Tucson, as I would have loved to meet both of them.

  • Carolyn Classen

    Finished the 3 Prather books I own and here’s another timely quote (last one in his book “Notes on Love and Courage”):
    “This evening I happened to look out the window just as the sun was setting. Along with a feeling of awe there was the unmistakable sense of being carried away.  For that one moment I knew it didn’t make any difference that I was going to die. This small life of mine was not important. I belonged to that beauty, and everything was as it should be”.
    R.I.P. Hugh.  Your words live on in us.

  • Sheryl Mills

    I found this memorial announcement when I was doing searches for Mr. Prather’s books.  I felt the need to buy copies for all my friends that were not fortunate enough to have read them.  The passing on of Mr Prather leaves a void in the universe.  I read his first book “Notes To Myself” my freshman year in college: which for me was a time of enlightenment and opening myself to all around me.  Hugh Prather assisted in that opening up.  His thoughts were so simple, yet so profound – which shows that we as human beings make things much more complicated than it needs to be.  Good Speed Hugh Prather it was indeed a pleasure making your acquaintance!

    • Carolyn Classen

      Sheryl, thanks for writing & sharing your enjoyment of Hugh Prather’s books.  Living in Tucson where he lived & died, I only wish I had known he was at St. Francis in the Foothills church, as I would have liked to take one of his lay classes.  I only found out he was here when I read his obituary in the Az Daily Star.

    • Kim

      really …? he was a farad

  • fyiornot

    I meet Hugh back in the 70′s when I read his book. It was very moving and shape my attitude and future outlook,  Thank you Hugh for the life change I am now 58.

  • Kim

    OK I knew him and I can not believe the comments. I’m glad his writings helped people but as a person he was a complete farad along with his wife. They wrote books about having a good sexual relationship and jet he admitted to me he and his wife had not touched each other in over twenty years. Both him and his wife had extramarital affairs but to sell books the professed the opposite.  He was an egotistical  a man. Like many of us he had a few good incites about life  but unlike most of us had no problem lying to everyone to project an image of himself.
     
    Jim

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