Obituary of Rachel Joyce Sterrett

Rachel Joyce Livingstone Sterrett August 12, 1941- July 2022. Rachel Joyce Livingstone Sterrett went home with Jesus on July 8, 2022 at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Care Center in Boone, NC. She was 80 years old, born August 12, 1941 in McCooke, Nebraska, the first child of Joyce Hoffman Livingstone and the Rev. Benjamin Franklin Livingstone. During her childhood Rachel moved around the mid-west with her parents while her father started Sunday Schools with the American Sunday School Union. The family moved often as Rev. Livingstone served churches in North Wilkesboro, Old Fort, Concord and Charlotte, NC, Fayetteville, TN and Timber Ridge, VA. There she graduated from Fairfield High School, Fairfield, VA in June 1959. Rachel also met her future husband John D. (Doug) Sterrett, III while in High School. In September 1959 she entered Asbury Collage in Wilmore KY transferring a year later to Winthrop Women's College in Rock Hill, SC where she graduated in 1963 with a BS in Home Economics. On June 15, 1963 She and Doug were married following his graduation from Virginia Military Institute and commissioning into the US Army as a 2d Lieutenant. From June 1963 until Doug's retirement in 1983 they moved some twenty-one times from one Army post to another. In 1966 she gave birth to John Benjamin Sterrett and in 1968 to Joseph William Sterrett. Rachel quickly proved to be a loving and creative parent rearing her boys alone for two years while Doug served in the Republic of Vietnam and during other periods when he was away on duty. Rachel used her extensive leadership skills organizing groups in Army Chapels, unit wives groups and while employed as a DA civilian at Ft. Sheridan, IL. Following Doug's retirement and seminary She followed him as he became a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) serving churches in Dallas, TX; Lebanon, Winchester, Warm Springs, and Harrisonburg, VA. Near Winchester in the Parish of the Valleys Cooperative Larger Parish of eight churches (Middletown, Cedar Creek, 2nd Opequon, Round Hill, Mt. Hope, and Clearbrook in VA; Wardensville and Ivanhoe Presbyterian Churches in WV) she served as Director of Christian Education traveling from Church to Church organizing youth and teaching. During this time she was active teaching, organizing and leading eighty-five Vacation Bible Schools and in partnership with Doug led eighteen Day Camps for Children. This continued when they moved to Warm Springs Presbyterian, Warm Springs VA. In addition to her work in the churches Rachel organized several Missions Festivals involving all of Shenandoah Presbytery's 120 churches. Rachel and Doug retired to Harrisonburg, VA in January 2006. After three years they moved to their "Laughing Place" on Goshen Creek in the Holiday Hills community near Boone, NC. Preceded in death by her parents and youngest brother Samuel J. Livingstone, Rachel is survived by her husband Doug, two sons, John, and Joseph and partner Alice and four grandsons; Taylor in Denmark, Andrew, Benedict, and Wilfred residing in the UK; her brother Benjamin Franklin Livingstone, Jr. of Monroe, VA, Sister-in-Laws Linda Livingstone, Martha Schoonmaker, and Susan Copenhaver and two nieces and four nephews. Another beloved former daughter-in-Law, Rachael B. Sterrett resides in Lancaster, UK. Rachel leaves a special love and thanks for her long time aides Renee Johnson and April Demner as well as the aides at Deerfield Ridge Assisted Living and Memory Center and the nurses and social workers in the Medi Home Health Care and Hospice. A memorial service will be conducted in the First Presbyterian Church of Boone on Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. followed by a graveside service at Mt. Lawn Cemetery in Boone. Austin and Barnes Funeral Home will be handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to The First Presbyterian Church of Boone, 131 Big Valley St., Boone NC 28607; the Medi Home Health Care and Hospice, 400 Shadowline Dr, Suite 101, Boone NC 28607; or to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.