Rachel Wray Finch Sterrett

Rachel Wray Finch Sterrett Rachel Wray Finch was born to Mary Elizabeth Deans Finch and Frank Journey Finch in Wilson, North Carolina, on June 23, 1916. She was the last of four children. After the Crash of 1929, Rachel and her family moved to Washington, D.C. where she attended secretarial school. She was employed with the Procurement Division of the Treasury Department and then was secretary to Representative Griswold (R) of Wisconsin. She married William Wilson Sterrett on December 19, 1936. Bill was also a secretary, but “across the aisle”, to Congressman Nelson (D) Missouri. They moved to Slater, Missouri, after World War II to Bill’s hometown. He was the City Attorney there for 33 years and she enjoyed making a home for them and their two sons, Joseph Burks and James Roger and the family dog, ‘Pache. Rachel was an accomplished seamstress and a great cook. She sang in the Slater Presbyterian Church choir and did many acts of kindness while they lived in Slater. She enjoyed reciting poetry, playing bridge and canasta and a highlight of her life was traveling to Plains, Georgia, to welcome President Jimmy Carter home after his term in office. Bill and Rachel were married for 63 years. Bill passed away on June 20, 1999. Rachel moved west to Oregon in 2002 to join her son, Joe, and his wife, Cathy, but at least she came by airplane, not in a covered wagon! Rachel passed away June 19, 2012 at the Newberg Care Home, Newberg, Oregon at the age of 96. She is survived by her sons Joseph (Catherine Roberts Sterrett) of Sherwood, Oregon, and James (Mary Kabyn Sterrett) of Balzac, Alberta, Canada, and three grandchildren: Michael Wilson (Laura Cooper Sterrett) of Nashua, New Hampshire, Suzanne Elizabeth Le (Phuong Le) of Sherwood, Oregon, and Russell William Sterrett of Balzac, Alberta, Canada. She also leaves six great-grandchildren. Her Funeral Service will be Friday, June 22, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. in Attrell's Sherwood Funeral Chapel, a Golden Rule Funeral Home, with Pastor Brett Meador officiating. Chapel Viewing and Visitation hours are Friday, June 22 from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. An additional Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in Slater Presbyterian Church, Slater, Missouri. Interment will follow in Slater City Cemetery. Online condolences may be made at www.attrells.com

Rachel Wray Finch Sterrett

June 23, 1916 - June 19, 2012