Carl (Tommy) Rider

Carl Thomas (Tommy) Rider, 80, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at the St. Marys Medical Center in Blue Springs, MO. Visitation will be held Thursday May 2, 2013 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church. Funeral services will follow with Darryl Rider officiating. Burial services and military rites will be at the Mt. Tabor Cemetery immediately following the service. Memorials are suggested to Childrens Mercy Hospital in memory of Joshua Rider. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ralphojones.com. Tommy was born on January 27, 1933 in Johnson County, MO to Carl B. and Lela (Specker) Rider. In 1953 Tommy enlisted in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1955. On December 24, 1950 he married Margaret (Mugs) Aleene France in Odessa, MO. In 1987 Tommy retired from Ford Motor Company where he worked as a metal finisher. He was a member of the U.A.W. 249, VFW Post 5675 in Odessa, Mt. Hope Lodge 476 and a lifetime member of the Mt. Tabor Cemetery Board. He loved farming, woodworking, coon hunting, cooking, drinking coffee and watching his martins from the front porch, but most of all spending time with his family. In addition to his wife, survivors include five children, Leland Rider and wife Connie of Odessa, MO, Carla Halsey and husband Roy of Odessa, MO, Donald Rider and wife Debbie of Odessa, MO, Cecil Rider and wife Kathy of Odessa, MO and Margie White and husband Rick of Mayview, MO; 14 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren, 8 step great-grandchildren, three brothers, Curtis Dean Rider and wife Ann of Mayview, MO, George (Dub) Rider and wife Irma of Odessa, MO and Robert (Bob) Rider and wife Dela of Townsend, MT; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Tommy was preceded in death by a grandson, Joshua Rider a brother Paul Rider and two sisters, Betty Ford and Carlene Diamond.