Barbara Lillian Rader

Barbara Lillian Rader, of Groesbeck, passed away Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Groesbeck LTC, at age 73. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Monday, April 8, 2013, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, with Brother Richard Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Cobb Cemetery. Barbara was born August 24, 1939 to Ben L. Stohler and Mary Frances (Quaite) Stohler in Waco. When Barbara was 14, the family moved to Groesbeck for Bro. Stohler to serve as the Minister at the First Baptist Church when Barbara was 14. She graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1957, and attended Hillcrest Nursing School briefly. Deciding she didn’t want to be a nurse, she changed her training to Durham Business School in Waco, and then she worked awhile in Waco. Barbara met John Deen Rader while “riding the drag” with her girlfriends one Friday night. He was from Groesbeck, but older than her, and therefore she didn’t know him until talking to him that night. Two days later, he said she was at his parents’ home in the country looking him up, and “the rest was history.” John Deen and Barbara were united in marriage on September 4, 1959, and made their home in Groesbeck the rest of their life. They were the parents of two sons. Barbara began her career with Limestone County as a Deputy County Clerk in 1968 under Dena Pruitt. She worked as Secretary to County Judge Bobby Reed from 1971 to 1976 and then as Secretary to County Judge Calvin Hardison. She then transferred to the tax office working under Jep Sims, and when he retired. She ran for the office of Limestone County Tax Assessor-Collector, which she held from 1985 until her retirement in December 2004. She became acquainted with most of Limestone County, both in meeting people while she ran for office and in serving the public daily. Barbara made many friends around the state with other Tax Assessor-Collectors when meeting around at annual conferences. During this period of time, Houston Power and Light had a major impact on Limestone County with the development of the coal mine and power plant, which resulted also in a major impact on the workload of the tax assessor’s office. Barbara played a very instrumental role that benefited Limestone County citizens in her fight to help save the Mexia State School. While God had given her the role of being Mother to a special-needs son, her role resulted in her fighting to help other special-needs citizens and parents in keeping the State School at Mexia open. It was marked for closure in 1992 and the situation looked very serious, but Barbara devoted much of her personal time and efforts to working with directors of the State School, other civic leaders and members of the community, to contact Austin. A group of many citizens made a trip by bus to Austin, and Barbara personally spoke with Governor Ann Richards on behalf of the State School residents and parents as well as the financial impact on the whole community. The result was that Ann Richards did make a decision in favor of Limestone County by not closing the school at Mexia. Barbara remained active in the Mexia State (School) Assisted Living Center Volunteer Council, and worked each year in helping organize and solicit sponsors and donations for the fund-raising Gala. Barbara and John Deen were grandparents to three children who became their pride and joy, and kept them active, not only in babysitting regularly, but in attending all their activities, including Church, baseball, softball, stock shows, and showing off with pride their pictures in the newspapers. Barbara and John Deen were members of the Church of Christ of Groesbeck. She was a people person who enjoyed talking with everyone, and was a vital part of Limestone County and Groesbeck until her health slowed down her ability to do as much as she wished to do. The past year saw her needing special nursing care and therefore residing at Groesbeck LTC. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her loving husband, John Deen Rader of Groesbeck; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Melissa Rader of Groesbeck; son, Johnnie Rader of Thornton; sister, Benita Conder of Andrews; grandchildren, Tyler, Jordan and Emily Rader of Groesbeck; sister-in-law, Annette Brannon of Groesbeck; two aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at Groesbeck LTC for their loving care given to Barbara and her family.