Birdie Rader

Birdie Lane Wright Rader, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at The Arbors in Cape Girardeau.

Born on Aug. 12, 1926, in Nachitoches, Louisiana, the eighth and youngest child of Marvin A. Wright and Dugan Davis Wright, she grew up in Texarkana, Arkansas, raised by her aunt and uncle, Birdie Davis Lane and Samuel McKee Lane.

She accepted a teaching position after graduating from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.

On June 2, 1950, Birdie became the bride of William S. Rader at a service officiated by her brother, the Rev. William E. Wright at Central Christian Church in Texarkana, Texas. After marrying, the couple made their home in Blytheville, Arkansas. While in Blytheville, Birdie was active in the First Christian Church and served as president of the Blytheville Junior Auxiliary.

In 1959, the couple, along with their two young daughters, moved to Cape Girardeau. She attended Duke University Marine Lab and had a master of science in zoology. Birdie was an instructor of biology and zoology at Southeast Missouri State University. She studied medicine at the University of Missouri.

In 1974, she resigned her position at Southeast Missouri State University and opened American Real Estate. She bought a Century 21 franchise in 1978. Rader was a leading agent in the Century 21 system, garnering multiple awards as a top producing agent, and was inducted into the Century 21 Hall of Fame in 1993.

She served on the board of the Center for Group Counseling, was a member of Zonta, was active in Tri Delta Sorority, taught Sunday school and was a life elder at Abbey Road Christian Church.

She is survived by her daughters, Jane (Thomas) DeBoe of Tequesta, Florida, and Beth (Chris) Hennessey of Grand Rapids, Michigan; two grandsons, William Sterling DeBoe of Florida and William Curran Hennessey of Michigan; and two great-grandchildren, Ronald S.

DeBoe and Catherine Lane DeBoe of Florida.

Birdie was preceded in death by her husband, the honorable Judge William S. Rader; her parents; her aunt and uncle; four sisters; and three brothers.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of service Wednesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at noon Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Ronald Routledge will officiate. Burial will be at Cape County Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Abbey Road Christian Church or the Alzheimer's Association.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.