Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Rachel Pauline Kendall, passed at the age of 93 on Tursday, November 30th, 2017. Born to Vernon Truman Grooms and Rose Pauline Bateson, on Friday, February 1st, 1924, in Topeka, KS, she was the oldest of three children. In August 1944 she married her high school sweetheart, H. Wayne Kendall, and together they raised three daughters. Until his passing in 1988, Wayne and Rachel enjoyed 44 years of marriage, which included living in Topeka and Denver, CO, before settling in Springfield, MO.

Rachel was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker, supporting Wayne through his master''s degree and owning and operating his data processing business, Data Tabulating Cooperation. While raising their daughters, they enjoyed an active social life with many friends. She joyfully retold the stories of her husband''s humorous nature, and the fun times they shared together. During her lifetime, she took pleasure in flower gardening, playing cards, and reading. She also enjoyed collecting wooden music boxes and porcelain bells; many of her music boxes were gifted to her by her husband and always proudly displayed in her home. Consistent with her generous nature, she passed on treasured pieces of her collections to her family. Her devotion to and love for her husband never wavered, and comfort can be found in their reunion.

She was a passionate Cardinals baseball fan, rarely missing a game. Through the 2017 season, she enjoyed sharing her in-depth knowledge of baseball statistics. While she enjoyed other sports as well, they paled in comparison to her love for the Cardinals. At age 87 she attended a St. Louis Cardinals game at the Springfield Cardinal stadium and dreamed of visiting them in St. Louis.

She is remembered for her enjoyment of cooking; priding herself in always making the turkey for holiday gatherings, even including last week's Thanksgiving. While it is uncertain if her love for baking surpassed her love for cooking, it is certain she relished eating her baked sweet treats and both the enjoyment of baking and consuming sweets was passed on to her daughters and granddaughter, along with many other remarkable attributes. Among such traits were a caring nature, concern, and compassion. She readily shared her smile and a genuine compliment to acquaintances and family alike. Her disposition: jovial, inquisitive and witty; she was a jewel.

Rachel was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, one brother Vernon Truman "Junior" Grooms and a very special four legged friend, Brady. She is survived by her three daughters, Cynthia "Cindy" Rae Davison, husband Glenn Davison; Janet "Jan" Kay Myers, husband Wayne Myers; and Jill Rene Harris; as well as grandchildren, Matthew "Matt" Wayne Myers, wife Kathryn "Katie" Whitney; Kristopher "Kris" Kendall; and Miranda Rachel Harris Lipscomb, husband Jacob Lipscomb; and great-grandchildren George Christopher Whitney, Molly Jacquelyn Myers, Annabelle Kate Myers, and David Wayland Lipscomb. She is also survived by her sister, Dorothy Louise Ramsey; her sister-in-law, Betty Grooms; and numerous nieces, nephews, and their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; as well as several close friends.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 from 1 pm - 2 pm, at the Klingner-Cope Family Funeral Home at Rivermonte, 4500 S Lone Pine Ave, Springfield, MO 65804, with a ceremony to celebrate her life to follow at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family would delight in her being remembered with donations to Rescue One, 1944 E. Grand St. Springfield, MO 65804 or rescueonespringfield.com.
She leaves us all rich in memories and we are better people for knowing her love.