Agnes Marie Stover

First, let me say, when you live to 98, it’s time for a celebration.

My mom, Agnes Marie Rader, was born on September 22, 1917 in Gazelle, California. She was the third child of Albert and Clara Rader. She joined her brother, Pete, and sister, Kate. Helen joined them the next year and then Mary Lucille. Their dad was sure his last child would be his 2nd boy. He chose the name James. -- And, when Genevieve was born he and all of the family affectionately called her, Jimmy and then Aunt Jimmy to me and all of my cousins.

Mom attended a small school in Gazelle, California. She graduated from Weed High School in1937. On February 21, 1939 she married Don Stover. They lived in a tiny house in Weed. Dad worked at the box factory and mom was a bookkeeper for the company store. She told me how much she enjoyed working there. Every time we were in Weed and drove by that building she would tell me another story. She showed me her office and the 2nd floor and a window where she could toss her keys to a man from the gas station who would service her car while she worked. Just one of the joys of small-town living.

My parents moved around Northern California as my dad was promoted in the lumber business. Don was born in Sacramento. My brother tells me that my dad was offered a really good job at a very remote mill on the coast. Mom was pregnant and my dad turned it down when he found out how far it was from a hospital. Instead, they moved to Ukiah where I was born, and dad was Superintendent for Hollow Tree Lumber Company. Some of my favorite memories are of the times my mom and I took the bus to the big city of San Francisco to go school clothes shopping. We had the best time and the best lunch at Blum’s in Macy’s Department Store. We also went to many SF Giants games and that usually included Aunt Kate, Uncle Jewell, and cousin, Mike. We took lots of trips to Weed so dad could hunt and fish with his siblings and mom could spend time with her mom and family. They had a big family reunion every July on Grandma Rader’s birthday. After Grandma Rader’s death, they continued to get together at each other’s home and decided that these gatherings would be, “No kids allowed.” Later, when I was in college, they lifted that ban and I got to attend. I loved to play Pinochle with my dad, Aunt Kate, and Uncle Wayne. I know that’s where I developed my Competitive Spirit. The loved a friendly, killer game of cards and always played to win. I have certainly inherited that trait.

Mom, Dad, her sisters and their husbands made frequent trips to Lake Tahoe and Reno. They loved the big production shows and did a bit of gambling. Red Skelton was one of their favorites and they saw lots of his shows.

David and I lived in Elko, Nevada when our surprise twins, Josh and Jacob, were born. Thank goodness my parents arrived to take care of all of us. They made many trips to Elko. Mom loved to play the slot machines that are always just outside of the restaurants in any casino. So, while we’d be waiting to go in to eat, she would play. My children’s comment was, “Grandma likes those Spinners.” We still affectionately call slot machines, “ spinners. “ Later, while out jogging, I was hit by a truck and broke my arm and was placed in a cast. Mom and dad were on their way to Elko to take care of me when my mom tripped and fell and broke her arm. She arrived with her arm in a cast. She was somewhat embarrassed by her clumsiness and wasn’t going to tell anyone. But then, she came up with this plan of how to tell her family and friends about her broken arm. David took a picture of both of us proudly displaying our casts and we sent one to everyone. She got a lot of funny phone calls as they received their picture. And, mom and I had a lot of laughs.

After dad died, mom would take the bus to Elko to visit us. One time she arrived quite late. David went down to pick her up and they were really slow in returning. Mom told me that they gave a nice lady named, “Coffee,” a ride home. I was horrified that David had taken my mom to one of the HOUSES in Elko. Mom thought that was so funny.

Mom’s greatest desire was to stay in her own home in Sacramento. I thank my brother, Don, for making that possible. She believed that she would live to 100. She came really close. As Don said, she was born in 1917, the same year as her favorite president, John F. Kennedy. She outlived him more than double. Her mind was sharp right to the end. She subscribed to the Sacramento Bee newspaper because she loved to work the Crypto quote, the New York Times Crossword puzzles and the Jumble on a daily basis. And, she loved her San Francisco Giants. She watched every game. She loved when Adam would pop in for a root beer and told me how much she loved the phone calls and e-mails from Becca just to say, “Love you, Grandma.” Her computer and e-mail kept her in touch with family and friends. She loved to hear about everything her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were doing and she treasured the pictures they sent her. She printed these pictures and displayed them on her piano. She was so proud of her family, her four handsome grandsons, Jason, Adam, Josh, and Jacob and her precious great grandchildren, Ignacio, Gabrielle, Makena, Jeffry David, Macie, and Jemma Dillon. It was her first great-grandchild, Ignacio, who started calling her grandma, “Oh-Oh” and that stuck with the rest of them. I know her grandsons share memories of playing “Crazy Eights” and their grandma’s home-made donuts.

She died last Wednesday or as Don said, she just ran out of steam. I know she was welcomed into Heaven into the loving arms of my dad and surrounded by her parents, brother and all of those Rader girls. I am sure they were ready to deal her in on the next game of Pinochle.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside service on Saturday, February 20 at 12:00pm at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery, 6700 21st Ave, Sacramento, CA.

Arrangements under the care of Harry A Nauman & Son.