Jesse "Poppy Roy" Trader

December 17, 1942 - January 15, 2020

Jesse LeRoy “Roy” Trader, age 77, of Mattoon, IL peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at 9:30 PM, Wednesday, January 15, 2020. A funeral service in his honor will be held at 1:00 PM, Monday, January 20, 2020 at Mitchell-Jerdan Funeral Home, located at 1200 Wabash Avenue, Mattoon, IL 61938; Pastor Joe Stephens will officiate. A committal service will immediately follow in Kickapoo Cemetery in Charleston, IL. A visitation will be held the same day from 11:00 AM until the time of service. Roy was born on December 17, 1942 in Charleston, IL the son of the late Orval and Sylvia (Scott) Trader. He married Georgia V. Reynolds on June 11, 1972 in Woodbury, IL; she passed away on January 10, 2018. He is survived by eight children: Tina Croy and husband Steve, Angela Kleinix and husband Kenneth, Cristal Pentz and husband Ed, Ricky Trader and wife Mary, Johnny Trader and wife Crissy, Penny Kelly, Letha Shafer, and Jimmy Shafer and wife Connie; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; one sister, Alice Smith and husband Ron; and his canine companion, Bandit. Roy is preceded in death by two sons, Steven Trader, Eddy Shafer, and five dogs: Zorro, Mokie, Isaac, Duke, and Powder. Roy was employed by Mattoon Community Unit School District #2 as a custodian before his retirement in 1987. He was a devout member of the Mattoon Calvary Baptist Church and was a person of faith and lived life serving others. Roy enjoyed cooking and delivering homemade meals to fellow parishioners, as well as family members. He had a special talent in carpentry and made constant updates to his home. He loved having captivating conversations on the phone and eaves dropping on his children’s phone calls in their younger days. While Roy could be ornery at times, his bighearted and good-humored nature touched the lives of many. Roy was always there to brighten the lives of others. Please visit www.mitchell-jerdan.com or www.facebook.com/mitchelljerdanfuneralhome to light a virtual candle in his honor or share a memory a with the family.