Sue (Harris) Rader

Norma Sue Rader celebrated the morning of September 23rd, 2021 in the presence of her savior with a new body at the age of 82.  

She was born at home in the farming community of Grantham near Madill, Oklahoma, on or around May 5, 1939 to Henry Bennett and Joyce Annabel (Wiles) Harris. She grew up the youngest of three girls on a farm outside Madill and apart from her second grade year, which she missed a large part of because of illness, always excelled at school.  During high school she sang at various events and participated in 4-H club raising money for college through livestock sales. She graduated from Madill High School as Valedictorian in 1957 and continued her education at Oklahoma Baptist University where initially she majored in biology to become a medical illustrator, then in music where she was extremely talented, having been gifted with a rich voice and perfect pitch. However, she finally settled on the male dominated field of philosophy, where she was the recipient of the outstanding philosophy student award, helping her always be up for a good “discussion”.   Her other interest on campus was drama, where she caught the eye of a freshman english major with her rendition of a “piece of bacon sizzling in a pan.” The summer of her junior year she worked as an actress in San Antonio, where absence and letter writing solidified what would lead to “DicknSue” Rader, who were married June 11, 1961 and never ceased to show everyone around them what a godly couple should look like. She served God as a pastor’s wife, missionary, choir member, and mother in places like Little City, OK; Zambia; South Africa; and Shawnee, OK. Her love for Africa and it’s people was a central focus in her life.  After raising her five boys to adulthood, she continued to be “Aunt Sue” to another generation of MKs (missionary kids) through the “cousins” organization on campus at OBU. During her later years she lived in Elk City, Houston, and Oklahoma City and was an avid Bible scholar and author, using her unique style to publish several books that she was always eager to discuss with others. Quite out of character, during the last few years she also enjoyed Thunder basketball, rarely missing even the pregame, often in Spanish. She leaves friends all over the world and a family that loved her dearly. 

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick A. Rader; her parents; and two sisters and their husbands.

Survivors include her five sons and daughters-in-law; son Michael and wife Sheren of Oklahoma City and their family, Bennett and wife Kelsey and their son, Maxwell, Magdelon and husband Kimes Gilbert and their daughter, Autry, Andrew and fiancée Hannah Scholl, Connelly and wife Lauren and their daughter, Violet; son Darrel and wife Michelle of McKinney, TX, and their family, Brittney and husband Frank Puskarich and their sons, Nash and Knox, and Chase; son Steven and wife Dolores of Pearland, TX, and their daughters, Anna, Abigail, and Lauren; son Greg and wife Tracy of Oklahoma City and their family, Camden and wife Samantha, Cole, and Cade; and son Jeff and wife Leah of Lubbock, TX, and their sons, Benjamin, Allen, and Charlie; and other extended family and friends.

Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021 at Cooper Funeral Home, Tecumseh, OK.   Per Sue’s wishes the casket will remain closed. Celebration of Life reception will be 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Thursday, September 30, 2021 at the Dick and Sue Rader Office of Student Life/Women of Compassion meeting room (Geiger Center) at Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma. Private Family Interment will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park, Shawnee, OK with Brother Mike Craig officiating under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home.  It is the family’s request that all event attendees wear masks out of respect for the family.

To share memories or to sign the guest book online, go to www.cooperfuneral.com/obituary/SueHarris-Rader.  In lieu of flowers Sue requested donations be made to the general fund of Oklahoma Baptist University (okbu.edu)