The family requested no memorial service and a family visitation only, which will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at Bratcher Funeral Home.
James (Jim) Rader was born June 4, 1937 in Summersville, West Virginia. He was the son of Anthony F. and Ethel L. Rader. Jim graduated from Summersville High School and then went to work in the coal mines. It didn’t take long for him to realize that wasn’t the life for him. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio and attended Lincoln Welding School. After completion of welding school he married his high school sweetheart, Joanne Ayres. They decided to move to Texas where Jim’s brothers resided. Jim and Joanne came to Denison where in 1958 he went to work for Johns Manville. Jim worked there for thirty years. The plant closed and he went to work for Industrial International, which later became Hughes. He managed the McKinney, and later the Sherman locations. Jim also owned a wrought iron business for many years.
In his earlier years Jim was a Scout Master for a local Boy Scout Troup, manager of a youth baseball team and was a Mason with the Billie Mosse Masonic Lodge # 1152. He was a Deacon in the Hyde Park Presbyterian Church for many years.
In 1994, Jim met Teri Semtner Gilchrist. They married in 1995 and moved to Pottsboro.
Jim will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman (he loved to hunt). Working in his yard and planting trees and a garden was a true pleasure of his. He loved to see beautiful scenery and especially liked seeing the trees in the fall when the colors were so vivid. A trip to the mountains was always a delight.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents. Anthony and Ethel Rader. He is survived by his loving wife Teri, son Jimmy Rader and wife Melanie of Timpson, TX, daughter, Robbin LaBonte and husband John of Denison, TX; stepson Kendall Gilchrist and wife Sherry of Cedar Hill, TX.; grandchildren Ashley LaBonte Brown and husband Cody of Frisco, Matthew LaBonte of Denison, Kaylie and Kristyn Rader of Timpson, Tawnee Gilchrist of Pottsboro, Kyle and Kelie Gilchrist of Cedar Hill and great granddaughter TynLee Gilchrist of Pottsboro; siblings Bob Radar and wife Jean of Lufkin, TX, Tony Rader & wife Anita of Tyler, TX., John Rader and wife Beckie of Tyler, and Belle Rader Hanson and husband Gordon of Huntington, West Virginia; his special, longtime friend Bob Foster and wife Jan, and very loving dog Rory. Host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, cousins, and friends.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Jim’s nurse Tim Miller and aide Sharon Allen for the wonderful and loving care they gave Jim during this last year.
The family requests in lieu of flowers please make a contribution to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org/donate) or The Humane Society (www.humanesociety.org).
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