John Gary Rader

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of John Gary Rader, who left this world on Sunday, September 7, 2025.

Born on December 29, 1961, John lived a life filled with music, a love for animals, and was truly a dreamer. John had a remarkable gift for looking at the best in everyone and easily made friends with his charm and his varied interests. John was an artist. He truly had a gift with words and was a creative soul - so much so, that when naming his children he opted for a more beautiful spelling of their common names and once stated that he thought extraordinary names would help to make his children extraordinary people. His creative passions extended into beautiful musical compositions and drawings as well. Always up for a discussion on anything from the weather to the most intricate of philosophical questions, one thing that John adored discussing were the many cats he provided with a loving and caring home for many years.

John is now at peace after years of struggling with health concerns. He is reunited with those he loved that have passed on before us and will be missed by those he left here on earth.

John is preceded in death by his mother, Frances Rader; his father, Roscoe Rader Jr.; and his sister, Susan Ray. John is survived by his daughter, Khrystle Rader (Nick Calhoun); his son, Johnathon Rader (Brandee Brown); his granddaughter, Emma Rader; his sister, Cathy Bass; his niece, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and countless friends.

In one of his writings that he shared with his niece, John wrote, "...if I love any one of you, I can say 100%, I love you from the top of my heart...not the bottom, the top, because my heart is overfilled...May you be as over blessed as I am in all things needed."

May John's memory be a blessing, may we be dreamers, and may we give love from the top of our hearts.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be given to Kudzu Cat Alliance at kudzucatalliance.org Donations in John's name will sustain their commitment to humanely reduce the population of unowned outdoor cats; something that John fervently supported.

We invite all who cherished John to join us in a celebration of his life where we will share stories, laughter and music, just as John would have wished.

October 25, 2025 4pm to 8pm

American Legion Post 160, Ballroom

160 Legion Dr SE

Smyrna, GA 30080