Deborah Rader

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Deborah Elliott Abbott Rader, our loving and devoted mother and friend to all whose lives she touched, on November 30, 2020.

She left us unexpectedly while in the care of the Manor in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was in her 73rd year.

Born a true yellow rose of Texas, she was the 3rd child of Harold and Edna Abbott and grew up in Nacogdoches, Texas. From a young age she always had a yearning for the arts, pursuing acting and performances whenever she had an opportunity. She also developed a skill for painting and drawing. This skill is what connected her with her husband Dr. Brian Rader as they met in the student union of Northeastern State University while she was sketching him. They married in Tahlequah in 1972 and became fixtures in the community. Deborah was a decorated school teacher serving 36 years in the service of Tahlequah Public Schools. She led her family by example of working hard to achieve success. In her “spare time” she received her master’s degree in language arts from Northeastern State University, was Tahlequah Teacher of the Year in 1984, achieved the distinction of being the first Nationally Board Certified teacher from Cherokee County, and one of the first in Oklahoma. She also had a love for writing and photography and held additional responsibilities in the community so she could pursue her passions. Her love of writing led her to be a columnist for the Tahlequah Daily Press, in which she had numerous articles. Her love of photography was a natural fit for leading the Junior High journalism department and creating the annual yearbook for 25 years of her service.

Deborah was a proud and beloved mother of four children; Howard (Ace) Shrum III, James Shane Rader, Melody Rader Reed, and Matthew Rader. She was also a devoted and loving grandmother to 13 grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Dr.

Brian Rader. Deborah lived a wonderfully full life as a passionate, dedicated and driven educator. Teaching not only her kids and grandchildren but also thousands of children from Tahlequah during her 36 years of service.

Deborah instilled in her family the values of perseverance, persistence, hard work and family values, which live on in her children and are shared traits of their families. She will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.

A celebration of Deborah’s life will be held at a later date.

In honor of her life and accomplishments we ask that donations be made to St. Basil’s Episcopal Church where she was a proud parishioner.