Birdie Lane Wright Rader

Birdie Lane Wright Rader 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep November 13, 2015 at The Arbors in Cape Girardeau. Born in Nachitoches, LA on Aug 12, 1926, the eighth and youngest child of Marvin A. Wright and Dugan Davis Wright., she grew up in Texarkana, Ark. 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, Rev. William E. Wright at Central Christian Church in Texarkana, TX. After marrying, the couple made their home in Blytheville, AR. 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 MS in Zoology. Birdie was an instructor of biology and zoology at SEMO. 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 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. Birdie was preceeded in death by her husband, The Honorable Judge William S. Rader, her parents, her aunt and uncle, four sisters and three brothers. She is survived by her daughters, Jane DeBoe (Thomas) of Tequesta, FL, Beth Hennessey (Chris) of Grand Rapids, MI, two grandsons, William Sterling DeBoe of Florida, William Curran Hennessey of MI, and two great-grandchildren, Ronald, S. DeBoe and Catherine Lane DeBoe of Florida. Visitation and funeral will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at Ford and Sons Funeral Home on Mt. Auburn Rd. Visitation will begin at 10 am until time of funeral service at noon. Rev. Ronald Routledge will officiate. Burial will follow at Cape County Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Abbey Road Christian Church or the Alzheimers Asssociation. Online condolences may be expressed at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Tributes

Birdie Lane Wright Rader

August 12, 1926 - November 13, 2015