D.J. Rater Obituary
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Doris June "DJ" Rater, 86 of Sunset, died Wednesday, March 27th, 2024.
Funeral services will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, March 29th, at the Old Country Church in Bowie, TX.
Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 28th, at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, TX.
DJ was born June 27, 1937 in Post Oak, TX to Eva Corine Hufhines and D.L. Rater. He was a graduate of Bowie High School in 1955. He went on to Tarleton State College for one year before going into the Army in 1956 and serving two years in Germany.
In 1958, he returned home and married Lona Faye Wade. Three years later, their daughter Donna Lynn was born. DJ graduated from North Texas State University in 1962 while working in the Fort Worth Stockyards. He began teaching at Gainesville State Training School before moving to Forestburg and teaching the 5th and 6th grade. After retiring from education, he began a successful fertilizer business. He was also a long-time farmer and rancher.
He is preceded in death by his parents, D.L. and Eva Rater and two infant daughters, Laurie Gayle Rater and Vickie Dale Rater.
DJ is survived by his wife, Lona Rater; daughter Donna Singletary and husband, Mark; grandsons, Brian Rater and wife, Christi, Shane Hunt and wife, Erica, and Joe Singletary and wife, Laura; brother, Lon Rater; and great-grandchildren Slaton, Kellen, Cora, Josie, Hattie, Niesca, Carlos, Layla, and Joe'L; brother in-law Gorden Wade and wife, Genell, sister in-law Dee Vieth and husband, Frank; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a lifetime's worth of close friends.
Every day spent with family and friends was the best day ever as DJ would say.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, Texas. Send flowers to the service of D.J. Rater
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1418 Highway 59 N, Bowie, TX 76230
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