Rachel Katherine Taylor

Rachel Katherine Taylor passed away on March 10, 2017. She was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 21, 1937. She graduated from Incarnate Word Academy and Del Mar College. Rachel was a member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church where she was involved in various church organizations.

Rachel was the youngest daughter of Dave Ciriaque Rachal and Irene Sullivan. She was proud of her rich South Texas pioneering ancestry. Rachel was the great granddaughter of D.C. Rachal who settled at La Rosita Ranch at White-Point. D.C. was noted for his unique ability to drive thousands of cattle to the mid-west markets in record time, a method which became known as “Rachal Em” for driving them hard and fast as opposed to more conventional methods. D.C. later became one of the largest cotton farmers in San Patricio County, passing the land on to his son Chrys who later bequeathed the property to Rachel’s father, Dave and his siblings. Rachel’s maternal great-great-grandfather Nicholas Bluntzer immigrated to Texas with his family at the age of 9 from Alsace, France. Nicholas Bluntzer served as a scout for Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee. Upon his death in 1901, Nicholas was one of the largest tax payers in Nueces County, having owned 60,000 acres.

Rachel is survived by her husband, James Patton Taylor, Jr, son James Robert “Jim Bob” Taylor and wife, Courtney and grandchildren, Katie and Robby Taylor. She is also survived by her sister, Jeannette Mick, and several nieces and nephews.

Our family appreciates the care provided by our extended family: Dr. Jim Willerson and his Texas Heart Institute team; Dr. John Stroehlein and his MD Anderson Gastroenterology team and Dr. Omar Barakat and his BCM team.

Visitation will be from 6 pm to 8 pm with a holy rosary beginning at 7 pm at Earthman Bellaire Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet, on Monday, March 13, 2017. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 am on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10330 Hillcroft. The Rite of Committal will follow at 3:30 pm at Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery, 2731 Comanche Street, Corpus Christi, TX 78704.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to The Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Ave, MC 3-116, Houston, TX 77030; M.D. Anderson Gastroenterology Dept, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, #1466, Houston, TX 77030; BCM Dept of Surgery, 6620 Main, #1350, Houston, TX 77030 or the charity of choice.