Virginia Ruth Rader, 82 of Cabool, MO was born to Mitchell Buford and Nettie (Norton) Carmack on October 9, 1939 at Deer, Arkansas in the Boston Mountains. She joined brother, Buddy and sisters, Velma and Mary Sue and later brother Harold completed the family. When Virginia Ruth was six the family moved to Cabool for work.
Jenny met and married Bill Rader and born to this union were Deborah, Greg and Dana.
Her grands from first born, Holly Jenkins, Jennifer Williams, Natalie Renfro, Ronnie Rust and Katie Rust; great grands, Alexis Jenkins, Cody Shaver, Kally Shaver, Cooper Shaver, Grace Shaver, Blake Williams, Isaiah Rust, Ezra Rust and the newest baby, Jack Williams brought non stop joy, play and fun to her life. She was blessed with two loving and dedicated son-in-laws, Ron Lemon and Ron Rust; special friends, Beverly Wilson and Gloria White; sister-in-laws, Katie Carmack and Norma Shannon that were always by her side and so many loved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and friends.
After 40 plus years working at Cartwright Dental she fulfilled her passion for travel. Traveling coast to coast, border to border and around the world. Ten years ago this month she was diagnosed with her first cancer and was told time was short. Two more cancers over the next 10 years and Alzheimers came along. They may have slowed her down but she was always up to go. We spent many hours in the car. Through all the tough times she never complained or felt sorry for herself.
From Jennifer,
She taught me to drive at 11 and didn’t bat an eye when the wheels started going over that outer line. Always up for a trip to McDonald’s for a diet Dr. Pepper.
We had never eaten a mango so she and I tried one together!
Loved old movies.
Paid me way too little to fold her laundry and clean the leaves on her plants.
Not afraid to drive the old truck through her land like it’s an atv.
Chewed gum so hard until it pop, pop, popped between her teeth.
Need a toothbrush? She’s got a few or few dozen she can give you out of her stash.
Best damn potato salad maker there will ever be. Chicken and noodles too.
Hands like my mom’s.
Taught me how to walk the garden to pick and eat.
If it had a clearance tag, it belonged in her closet.
Famous-Barr!
World traveler. Loved home most of all.
A complex lady. A beautiful lady.
Already missed.
Tell dad and papa we’re gonna have a big party when we get there. Love you, Mamaw.
From Katie Mae,
Forever grateful that this summer I was able to spend so much time with the woman who began our family legacy of strong-willed and witty women.
I imagine she’s already found a Dr. Pepper, celestial politics to discuss, and Dollar General in Heaven now.
From Alexis,
Anytime mammaw was rolling into town in her big blue van I knew it was going to be a good day. We used that van to drive around looking at all the big fancy houses and then we would go back home and she would make me as many fried potatoes as I could eat. I’d ask to wear her glasses and proceeded to play in her purse and chew all her trident orange gum but she never minded because that’s just who she was. I’ll keep the rest of the memories to myself for now but, I’ll keep watching Dateline and I’ll always save a seat for you. Thank you for being who you were and always keeping me in check. I love you! see you later!
From Holly,
Lex will always listen to Elvis and think of the countless hours spent in the living room listening to you sing along. I will keep chasing the next adventure and always be so grateful for all the adventures with you, the countless hours spent exploring the woods, riding ATV’s, Silver Dollar City trips and of course making sure you had the correct bullets in the “snake” gun. Thank you for always showing up for Lex and I! You were the greatest Mamaw! We love and miss you!!
From Natalie,
Countless hours on the hammock under the old mimosa tree,long drives on the dirt roads,hundreds of dollars spent on Dairy Queen cookie dough blizzards,putting all four of my babies in their car seats and going to town to watch the cabool trains roll through town,long summer days at the cabool pool,Diet Dr Peppers homemade chicken noodles potato salad,the movie Annie over and over and over with yet another bag of Funyuns….this was my mama, she knew how to live life and enjoy it to the fullest,I think the way I looked at her changed the summer I was at her house and I saw a huge black snake,I went in and told her next thing I know she was on the back deck with a gun the size of her,firing that thing off and hitting everything but the snake 😳she ripped a dirty word and told me to load up in the van to which she then proceeded to backup in the yard at what seemed a very high rate of speed,I was then told to hang my head out the window to check and see if she “got him”….she didn’t….we left ruts in the yard that day that more than likely made papa rollover in his grave,I’m actually shocked he didn’t appear somewhere with that look he could give when you knew you had done it then….the snake lived,in fact he’s probably laughing right now that he’s still in her yard 🙄🙄I checked my salvation so many times that day and googled therapists for severely traumatized…I realized her crazy went deep very deep😬😳and I hope one day I’m just like her…completely crazy and absolutely didn’t give one hoot what people thought of her she lived life and had fun doing it and she took us grandkids along for the ride! Thank you mema for giving this world a run for their money I love you and miss you so much already! See you soon! I hope Jesus made your hammock huge up there cause we are all on our way soon!
A life well lived!
