Kathleen Marie Rachel

Ms. Kathleen (Kathy) Wilson Rachel, age 77, of Pilot Mountain, passed away January 15, 2025 at the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home in Dobson, NC.

Kathy was born March 7, 1947 to the late Russell and Mildred Wilson in Pittsburgh, PA. She was a math teacher for almost 30 years, and retired from Northwest Middle School of Rural Hall, NC.

Kathy spent her time cooking and decorating the house in the community of Shoals that she shared with her late husband, Billy Rachel. She loved warm weather and would often be found gardening in the yard from the spring through the fall each year.

She was known by all who knew her to love and care for animals, including multiple dogs and cats over her life. She also enjoyed feeding birds in her yard and watching them gather.

Kathy’s favorite times of her life were those spent with her family and friends. She enjoyed cooking holiday meals and sharing company with her loved ones on special occasions. Kathy also had a great time continuing to gather with her colleagues after retirement with the Red Hat Society.

Kathy is survived by her son Chris, brother Russ and sister Elaine, their spouses, and many nieces and nephews around the country. In addition to her parents, Kathy was preceded in death by a son, Matthew, her husband Billy, brother-in-law Donald, and mother and father-in-law Ethel and Roy.

Funeral services will take place on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 2:00pm at Cox-Needham Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive vistors one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Pinnacle Methodist Cemetery. Rev. Sarah Morris will officiate.

The family would like to thank Jane Hawks, Jack Ciancio, and all the neighbors in Kathy’s community who helped support and look after her by taking her to appointments, getting groceries, being emergency contacts and mowing her lawn during her illness, and to the staff at Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care for the care that she received during her time with them.

In lieu of flowers or any gifts, the family requests that donations be made to the Joan & Howard Woltz Hospice Home (https://www.mtnvalleyhospice.org/ways-to-give/donate/ ) in Kathleen’s honor.

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