ROBERT E. RADER

LAMAR- A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Lake Cemetery for Robert Elbert Rader, 90, Lamar, who died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020.

A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the front parlor of Daniel Funeral Home, with some of the family present from 12:30 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to St. Jude Children's Hospital or Shriner's Hospital for Children in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; three daughters and two sons, Barba Parrish and husband Ron, Lamar, Ann Ditty and husband Mike, Lees Summit, Cyndy Johnson and husband Rick, Lamar, Matt Cook and wife Dot, Lamar and Dusty Cook and wife Lisa, Lamar; nine grandchildren, his youngest being Logan and Morgan Cook and 16 great-grandchildren, along with a nephew, David Rader, Lamar; a niece, Cynthia Rader Johnson, Carl Junction and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Frank Rader.

Mr. Rader was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Lamar, to Elbert and Elsie (Cass) Rader. He attended Anderson country school for his elementary school years and graduated with the Lamar High School Class of 1949.

He began his salesmanship talent at the age of 13, by selling the hides of animals (rabbits, opossums and squirrels) that he had hunted. He had saved enough money by age 15 to purchase his first car, a Model T Ford. He had a mechanical mind and enjoyed working on engines of trucks, cars and machinery. This dividend paid off many times over in his lifetime of buying and selling cars, trucks and various pieces of farm equipment. He also had acquired land and became a crop farmer in the early 50's. In the winter and off days from farming, he would be seen at area farm sales and car auctions.

Mr. Rader was noted for wearing his fur hat and chewing on a cigar. He always prided himself by a making a "Good Deal". Between 1950 and 1980 he developed a (treasure trunk) "The Junk Yard" at his home on EE Hwy., northeast of Lamar. He had a keen memory of knowing exactly where his treasures were located, on any given day. He had the slogan printed on fountain pens that he would give away that said - "Rader's Used Machinery, You Want, We Have, or Will Find".

He married Barbara Roberts Cook on May 9, 1975. After a few years they made their home on 126 Highway near Jasper. He crop farmed, raised farm animals (cattle, pigs, donkeys and goats), ran the Junk Yard and in his spare time owned and operated The Dairy Boy, Chuck's Diner and Jim's Restaurant, which were all located in Lamar at various times.

At the end of his days while in the hospital, he told his family that "He had a good life" but his mind was still on task, having his wife list all of his remaining farm machinery and its value. Always thinking!

Rest In Peace.