Edgar Charles Rater, 90, of the Sylvan community died on Thursday, November 14, 2019. Visitation will be Sunday, from 3-5 pm November 17, 2019 at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home and funeral will be Monday, 2:00 p.m. November 18, 2019 at Fry-Gibbs Funeral Home with burial at Detroit Cemetery following.
Edgar was born on May 5, 1929, in Shannon, Texas, the 3rd of 9 children to Jim and Nana Lou Rater. He attended Detroit High School and Paris Junior College. He then served in the Navy from 1950 to 1954 including the Korean War. Upon return, he went to Arlington State College where he met and married Mary Nell Collins of Arlington on November 23, 1956. They had two children. He worked as a rancher and at numerous cattle auctions in northeast Texas. He served on the Blossom School Board and Blossom Masonic Lodge. He was passionate about his horses and cattle and lived his dream of ranching until his dying days.
He is survived by wife, Mary Nell Rater; children Charles Lynn (Chuck) Rater, and wife Judy of Dallas, Debra Nell (Debbie) Myers, and husband Andrew of Alvarado; grandchildren Bridgette Coker of Sulphur Springs, Kristal Jackson of Commerce, Andrea Myers of Alvarado and Robin Myers of Glen Rose; great grandchildren Collin Coker and Brady Jackson.
Preceding him in death are his parents, Jim and Nana Lou Rater; siblings, John Rater, Jack Rater, Jim Rater, George Rater, Arlene Raney, Myrtle Gellinger, and Aneta Rater.
Pallbearers are Kevin Gillie, Paul Walker, Pat Murphy, Tony Whittle, Don Anderson and Glen Coleman. Honorary pallbearers are Clyde Daniels, Coop Cowan, Harold Blackburn, B. D. Nations, Bobby Broadway and Bill Ed Griffis.
Donations can go to St Jude Children’s Hospital in his honor.
Special thanks to the 5E nursing staff at PRMC.
