Joan Shrader Obituary

Joan Parks Shrader passed away peacefully after a brief bout with pneumonia, surrounded by her loved ones on Thursday, November 5, 2026. She was born July 23, 1936 to Eula Pearl Martin and Joseph Hardy Parks in Jacksonville, Texas.

Her father drowned with she was five. She, her mother and sister moved back to El Dorado AR to be near family. Her mother died suddenly at a PTA meeting during Joanie's Junior year of High School. Her mother's sister, affectionately known as Mama Grew, and her husband Vern Vorhies McGrew took her in to finish High School in Snyder, TX and helped her get through college at Texas Women's College. She graduated in three years as a motivated young woman with purpose and out of consideration to lessen her dependence upon her aunt and uncle.

Her first job in a 35-year career was as a teacher of Physical Education and Cheerleading Sponsor in the first year of Permian High School in Odessa, TX.

She met the love of her life Hugh Edgar Shrader in Odessa, to that point a confirmed bachelor. She made his heart pound and head spin, so much so that within eight weeks they were married. They had two sons, John Hammond Shrader, III and Hugh Edgar Shrader, Jr. She taught Physical Education as they moved from Notrees, TX, New Orleans, LA, Traverse City, MI and back to Houston, TX with Hugh's transfers for Shell Oil Co. Upon Hugh's retirement they moved back to his hometown of Baird, TX. She taught another five years at Dyess Elementary before her retirement in 1995.

The community of Baird and First Baptist Church in Baird welcomed them home and they embraced the community and church back, being quite the fans and boosters of the students of Baird ISD.

Her family, having been taught the importance of gratitude, wishes to thank: The kind and compassionate staff of Hendrick South ER, ICU and Women's Center, Lyndale Assisted Living and Touching Hearts at Home. You all served her with kind hearts and gave her family peace that she was well cared for, especially between our visits. We also want to thank her doctors, Samuel Brinkman, Chandler Milliorn, and David McCain.

A Special thank you to Sher Dougherty. You gave her dignity and joy every day.

We also are grateful to the community of Baird and First Baptist Baird who embraced her as their own and gave comfort to her family that she had a safe home following the passing of her husband Hugh.

She loves all of you.

She is predeceased by her husband Hugh Edgar Shrader, Sr., mother Eula Pearl, father Joseph Hardy Parks and sister Ann Hardy Tidwell.

She is survived by her sons, John, wife Susan, and grand-daughter Lauren and husband Danny; Hugh Jr, and grand-daughter Ava and husband Shevin; many cousins, nieces and nephews who all knew what unconditional love is, in part due to her.

She also wanted to say how much she appreciated the friendship of Gladys Goldsmith who was her next door neighbor. They were two peas in a pod.

Visitation will be held at Parker-Jacobs Funeral Home in Baird on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 3:00 to 5:00 PM. Funeral Services will be at First Baptist Church of Baird Monday, November 9, 2026, at 10:00, followed by cemetery proceedings at Scranton Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband Hugh.

In lieu of flowers she and her family ask you to consider donations to the "Hugh and Joanie Shrader Memorial Scholarship Fund" in care of the Community Foundation of Abilene, benefitting the students of Baird ISD High School. Mailing address is Community Foundation of Abilene, PO Box 1001, Abilene, TX 79604.