Jean Rader

Vivian Jean Rader, 84, was born August 17, 1942, in Washington D.C. and went to be with her Lord and Savior on September 19, 2026.

The daughter of the late Willard Lincoln and Opal Geneva (Susie) Hayes, Jean graduated from Bladensburg High School in 1960 and from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Recreation in 1964. While in College, she was a member of the University of Maryland Rifle Team. Jean married the love of her life, Rex Edward Rader, Jr., in September 1964. She worked at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a recreation director in the Children's Tuberculosis (TB) Hospital. They moved to San Diego, CA when Rex enlisted in the US Navy in 1965. While he was deployed twice to Vietnam, she worked for the Federal Government. They moved to Greensboro, NC before moving back to Maryland when her husband attended Dental School at the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. Together, they chose in 1976 to make Cookeville, TN their home and open his dental practice while welcoming their first daughter, Melissa, and then a second daughter, Katherine, only 21 months later. She delighted herself in staying at home and raising her children. She was a member of Cookeville First United Methodist Church where she was actively involved in the handbell choir and Vacation Bible School.

In 1985, she relocated to Chattanooga, TN. She continued to stay at home with the girls but later worked the front desk and managed her husband's dental office, retiring in 2012. She was a member of Hixson United Methodist Church where she played handbells, served on many committees, was active in Sunday School, and coordinated the weekly Prayer Group. She served on the board of the Chattanooga Symphony Youth Orchestra for 30 years and on the board for the Performing Arts League. She was actively devoted in prayer with the same group of women with Moms in Prayer International for over 35 years.

She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and playing piano for personal enjoyment. She leaves a wonderful legacy of faith for her family, as a devoted wife, a Godly Christian mother, a loving grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, prayer warrior, and friend.

She is survived by her daughters Melissa Rader of Hixson, TN and Katherine (Chad) Garland of Greeneville, TN, and grandchildren Kaley (19), Eli (16), and Piper (12), sisters Geneva Hayes of Sparta, TN and Sharon Simmons of Spencer, TN, sisters-in-law Sue (Wayne) Boseman of Enfield, NC and Nan Boothe of Birmingham, AL.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Rex Edward Rader, Jr., her grandparents Samuel Escol and Sophia Jane Hale, her parents Willard and Opal Geneva (Susie) Hayes, and sister Christine Miller of Sparta, TN.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Saturday, September 26th, 1-3:00 pm EST, at Hixson United Methodist Church (5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN), followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 3:00 pm.

The graveside service will be held on Sunday, September 27th, at 2:00 pm CST, at Fraser's Chapel Cemetery in Sparta, TN (5930 Big Bottom Road, Sparta, TN). A reception will follow at the family farm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Fraser's Chapel Cemetery Fund (checks payable to Fraser's Chapel Cemetery Fund, 536 Butts Bridge Road, Sparta, TN 38583) or Moms in Prayer International (https://momsinprayer.org/give/).
Online condolences may be made at CompanionFunerals.com.