Emery Odell Rider

Emery Odell Rider, 92, of Early and former resident of Coleman County, died Monday, July 11, 2016 at Brownwood Regional Medical Center. Funeral service with Military Honors will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, July 14, 2016 at Stevens Funeral Home Chapel, 400 West Pecan Street, Coleman, with Rev. Bill Slaymaker officiating and Rev. Eddie Ailshire officiating. Burial will be in the Burkett Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Stevens Funeral Home.

Emery Odell Rider was born October 9, 1923 in Byrds Community in Brown County to Henry Franklin Rider and Ida Mae Jones Rider. He grew up in the Byrds Community and later graduated from Burkett High School in Burkett in 1942. In January, 1943, Mr. Rider enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and served in the European Theatre of Operations with the 8th Air Force and then served in the Pacific Theatre of Operations, where he helped with the Atomic bomb tests in the South Pacific. On June 28, 1945, he married Willie Mae Burton in Coleman. Mr. Rider was farmer and rancher, mechanic and served as Justice of the Peace of Coleman County from 1980 to 1990. While living in Coleman, he was a member of Central Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Willie Mae Rider of Early; two children, Gary and Theresa Rider of Amarillo and Janice, and Brent Bush, of Early; seven grandchildren, Kevin and Trena Rider of Bushland, Brent and Deborah Rider of Bronte, Sonia and Scott Richardson of Amarillo, Erika and Dan Gerecke of Lubbock, Brad and Hailie Hubbard of Brownwood, Todd and Anita Hubbard of Southlake, Ryan and Jessica Hubbard of Austin; 10 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers, Cecil Rider, Clifton Rider, J.C. Rider, Floyd Rider and three sisters Betty Blount, Josephine Rider and Odessa Rider.

Memorials may be made to VFW Post 3278, 2300 Stephen F. Austin Drive, Brownwood, Texas 76801 or the donor's favorite charity.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.livingmemorials.com.