FAYETTEVILLE — Dorothy A. Rader,

88, of Fayetteville passed away Jan. 20, surrounded by family. Dorothy, born Nov. 25, 1932, to Gertrude and Bob Morgan in Guthrie Center, Iowa, was an only child.

Growing up in the 1930s, her family moved around quite a bit, living in Deming, N.M., Grand Junction, Colo., Buckeye, Ariz., and other places in the Southwest. Dorothy went on to graduate from West Fork High School in 1948 as an honor student who could burn up a manual typewriter of the era like few others.

In 1950, she met Kenneth A. Rader, who lived next door. They married in December of that year and went on to have five children — Duane, Ronald, Michael, Sally, and Chris.

Dorothy was a fiercely dedicated mom to all of her children, raising all five of them to pursue their individual and disparate interests and pathways in life. She adored being a mother and was always teaching, sharing her experience, and conversing. Her friendly and warm demeanor attracted ‘sons’ and there were many that she ‘adopted’ who delighted in calling her ‘mom.’

She loved her abundant flower gardens and lived to travel, visiting beautiful locations all over. Her faith was unshakeable. She imparted that to her children and was very active in her Christian congregation as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She lived her life to the full, and the hole left by her absence is impossible to fill.

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents and daughter Sally. She is survived by Kenneth Rader, her four sons, two granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dorothy’s name to The Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Services will be announced at a later date. Online condolences: www.WestfieldChapel.com .