In tribute - Jon Shrader: Man with a passion for giving

Jon Shrader was a man of few words. But when he had something to say, it was always worth listening to, according to his family and coworkers.

The longtime owner and operator of Clovis Family Healthcare died on Dec. 18 at 57.

"We'd always joke around in the office that he was a man of few words, but when he did talk, he was full of wisdom and generosity. He was just a kind, generous, humble person," said nurse practitioner Amanda Elam, who worked with Shrader at his clinic.

But family and friends said there was much more to Shrader than a quiet, driven man. He had a passion for helping others.

"His thing was helping others constantly. He had the biggest heart and always wanted to help others. Us providing top quality healthcare to people and providing healthcare to as many as possible was important to him, and just being there when they need us," Elam said.

Shrader's wife, Mandy Shrader, said he told others his hobbies were "taking care of my patients."

"He had a passion for his patients," Mandy said. "There was not a day that he felt like he was working. It was an honor and a privilege to him to serve others."

And however quiet he could be, Shrader had a silly side to him.

"I had a patient the other day that I took over, and he said, 'Are you going to start the visit with a joke like Dr. Shrader did?' He loved to have fun," Elam said.

Shrader's older brother, Jeff Shrader, said his brother's silly side and his fearlessness are what he remembers most.

"Jon really liked people. He was always able to lighten the mood and always had an engaging presence. More often than not, he was the kid who had a smile on his face," Jeff Shrader said. "That's why I jokingly say, I didn't realize he was that smart (to become doctor), because he was just so goofy as a kid. He was always very engaging and focused on people."

Jeff Shrader said while in Clovis following his brother's death, he met a 9- or 10-year-old patient of Shrader's, who told him about having a handstand and push up contest with him.

"You don't hear about a lot of doctors doing that," he said.

Jon Shrader grew up in a family of eight children, five of whom were international adoptions.

"It helped us grow and appreciate that we live in a bigger world than what we are. I think that contributed to the generous and giving spirit Jon had towards his family and friends," Jeff said.

He said his brother was a fearless overachiever from the time he was a small child. He said when Jon was 5, Jeff and another brother dared each other and Jon to run outside in a thunderstorm.

"My brother and I wouldn't do it, but Jon did. He ran to the end of the driveway and as he turned to run back, one of those large lightning strikes hit, and it looked like it hit right behind him. We thought we'd killed him," Jeff said.

"He wasn't just one thing. (Growing up), at times, he was my competitor and, at times, he was my defender. At times, he was my business partner and, at times, he was just a pain in my ass, and I'm sure I was his, too. I miss him."

Shrader mowed lawns and worked a newspaper route to save money for a pilot's license when he was 16. He attended college to be a pilot but changed his mind one year into school and decided to study medicine. He also served 10 years in the Navy.

"I used to joke with Jon that he was a much better pilot than driver," said Mandy Shrader. "I remember a time that we were driving in Ireland, and he turned the wrong way on a roundabout. I was yelling as he dodged cars. He pulled into a parking lot and calmly said, 'oops.'"

Mandy Shrader and Elam said Jon Shrader's legacy will continue to live on, and the healthcare clinic will remain open with the goal that patients receive quality care to his standards.

"I am blessed to have had Jon in my life. He loved life and lived big," Mandy said. "He gave his life doing what he loved, caring for patients."