Rachael Pauline McAdoo

Born on a farm just west of Abilene, Texas, Rachael was the oldest of Ollie and Arthur Hay’s three children. As an 11 year old child, she learned to cook, starting out with angel food cake. She proudly represented Abilene High School at the State Home Economics Meet and won 1st place in meal planning. After high school Rachael attended college at Hardin-Simmons University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education. On June 14, 1940 she married her high school sweetheart, Stewart McAdoo. In the fall of that year Stewart took a commission in the United States Army and Rachael began her life as a military wife and eventually a mother. The McAdoo family lived in many interesting places throughout Stewart’s 22-year military career. Among Rachael’s favorites were Japan and Guam. Rachael and Stewart were married 53 years before Stewart’s death in 1993. As a professional woman, Rachael had a career of her own. She taught school in the early 1940’s before marrying, then took a break as the family travelled, and returned to the classroom in 1959, teaching in elementary schools until retirement in Houston in 1973.

Rachael was an active member of her church and Sunday school throughout her life. She loved Jesus, her family and her friends. After retiring from teaching she dedicated much of her time to mission work through her church, and as a leader in the Women’s Missionary Union. She and her friends worked many hours each year on projects such as acquiring donations and filling boxes for the Seaman’s Mission and Operation Christmas Child. Frequently Rachael would have a room in her house full of stuffed animals that she cleaned and put bows on for children in need. She also made lap blankets for the elderly and beautiful hand stamped prayer cards in response to prayer requests at Willow Meadows Baptist Church. Rachael read her Bible daily and prayed for those close to her as well as others serving the Lord overseas and throughout the US.

Rachael loved to organize, coordinate and host family dinners for holidays, birthdays and special occasions. She set a gorgeous table with linens and china collected from places she lived and things she loved throughout her life. Everything was carefully planned and perfectly set, from the table cloths, to the silver, with centerpieces to match the theme of the day.

Rachael so enjoyed playing “42” with her friends. She would often say, “It’s about the fellowship, not about who wins or loses.” She had an incredible memory and was always ready to provide a story from her full and adventurous 98 years. Her legacy will be her family and all the lives she has touched. She was a wonderful Great Grandmother to two very special girls whom she had the privilege of knowing and loving before she left this world.

Rachael was continually busy with interesting hobbies. She loved learning new things, using her hands and finding productive ways to use her time. While living in Japan Rachael learned ikebana-Japanese flower arranging, and Japanese doll making. She had many other hobbies during her life, including cake decorating, quilting, china painting, ceramics and scrapbooking. Her creativity blossomed when she discovered her special gift for combining rubber stamp images with pretty papers to create greeting cards for friends, family and anyone who needed cheering up. She even dedicated an entire room to greeting card and scrapbook production and often joked she was going to put Hallmark Cards out of business!

Rachael maintained her cheerful attitude all the way through the final days of her life. She told stories and joked around with family and caregivers. With this in mind, Rachael’s family would like to thank all the health care professionals and facility staff members who cared for her during the last year of her life. She enjoyed your company and your healing touch.

Rachael is predeceased by her parents, Ollie Trantham Hay and Arthur Allen Hay, sister Juanita Jeanne Hay Thompson, brother Arthur Charles Hay, and beloved husband Stewart French McAdoo.

Rachael is survived by her son, Stewart McAdoo, Jr. and wife Gayle-Ann McAdoo, daughter Kay Ogburn, granddaughters Vicki Kelner and husband Marty Kelner, and Donna Lybarger and husband Rob Lybarger, great granddaughters Joy Lybarger and Tori Kelner, sister-in-law Clydene Hay, special family friend Mary Ann Thompson, and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Sunday, June 19th, from 4 – 6 PM at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 6700 Ferris St. Bellaire, Texas 77401. The funeral service will be on Monday, June 20th at 1:00 PM at Willow Meadows Baptist Church, 4300 W. Belfort Blvd., Houston Texas 77096. Interment will be on Wednesday, June 22nd at 11 AM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas, 77038.