Jimmie Tweel Carder takes a call from then-Sen. Joe Manchin as JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Steak & Spaghetti House celebrates its 85th anniversary in this June 9, 2023, file photo in downtown Huntington.
Jimmie Carder takes to-go orders as she does everyday, helping her father Jim Tweel at his restaurant in downtown Huntington. Jim's Steak and Spaghetti in 1999.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Siblings Larry Tweel, left, Jimmie Tweel Carder, and Ron Tweel during JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Spaghetti's 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Huntington.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Jimmie Tweel Carder, left, and Ron Tweel applaud as JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Spaghetti celebrates its 80th anniversary on Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Huntington.
Jimmie Tweel Carder takes a call from then-Sen. Joe Manchin as JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Steak & Spaghetti House celebrates its 85th anniversary in this June 9, 2023, file photo in downtown Huntington.
Jimmie Carder takes to-go orders as she does everyday, helping her father Jim Tweel at his restaurant in downtown Huntington. Jim's Steak and Spaghetti in 1999.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Siblings Larry Tweel, left, Jimmie Tweel Carder, and Ron Tweel during JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Spaghetti's 80th anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Huntington.
Sholten Singer/The Herald-Dispatch Jimmie Tweel Carder, left, and Ron Tweel applaud as JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Spaghetti celebrates its 80th anniversary on Saturday, June 9, 2018, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” The spaghetti heiress, Jamina ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJimmieÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Tweel Carder, died Wednesday morning at the age of 84.
Born Dec. 23, 1940, in Huntington, she was the first child of Jim and Sally Tweel. Her father owned JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Steak & Spaghetti House, which she managed for 20 years after his retirement.
She married Bill Carder, her University of Kentucky sweetheart, and moved to Nashville in the early ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜60s, where she raised four children, Shawn, Shelly, Dane and Jamina.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAs a younger brother, she was always kind of the one who ran interference for me, my brother, whoÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 2 years younger than I am,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Larry Tweel said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe was the one who went to high school first and kind of paved the way for myself and my brother Ronnie.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Larry Tweel described his older sister as fun-loving, outgoing and hardworking. She was a dancer and a cheerleader, and was voted ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œMiss Pony ExpressÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in high school.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe was very well respected ... amongst the staff and I think the restaurant community, for operating JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s in the way that my dad and (former manager C.M.) Gray had operated it for 60 years or so,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said.
In 2019, she walked the stage at the James Beard Awards to receive the AmericaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Classic Award on behalf of her familyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s iconic diner.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI never thought JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s would get into the national spotlight, and I know my dad and mom would be tickled that what they started more than 80 years ago is getting this type of attention,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Carder said at the time.
Patricia ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œTrishÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Woody was a waitress at JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s from 1989 to 2024.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe ran a tight ship and you knew her boundaries, what you were allowed to do, what you wasnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Woody recalled. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe was very strict, but she was excellent. She was a wonderful person.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Woody said Carder, like anyone else, had good and bad days, but was always a good person.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œShe had a huge heart. She helped so many people,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Woody said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI canÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t say enough about her. IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ll never forget her the rest of my life.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
She remembered how Carder helped return a wedding band found on the floor at JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s to its rightful owner.
SheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™d let employees bring their children to work and sit in the employee lounge, and sheÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™d feed them, Woody said. If a large party didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t leave a tip, she discreetly made up for it.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSomebody had something going on in their life, an employee, that was troubling. She would listen intently, and go out of her way to try to help you to overcome it in any way she could,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Woody recalled. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAnd that was kind of the side of her that I donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t know a lot of people saw.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Woody said employees knew not to be late and that Tweel Carder wanted things done the way they were supposed to be.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œJimmie is the hardest working woman I have ever met cause she never stopped. She was an extremely hard worker from early in the morning ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜til night,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Woody said.
The restaurant, which was sold to VDM Management last year, shared Tweel CarderÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s .
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOur hearts are heavy and we are thankful for JimmieÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s impact and legacy at JimÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s. She loved our community, her team and this restaurant. Please join us in wrapping the Tweel family in heartfelt condolences and love.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
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