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Yoder, Rachel

(March 12th, 2023)

Rachel was born November 1, 1947 in Turlock, California to parents Gordon and Goldie Horst.  After completing college, she emigrated to Canada with her husband to a rural acreage in northern Alberta where their daughter Tennessee was born.

After a period of time spent in Vancouver where she worked at colour printing for professional photographers, Rachel found her way to the Kootenays in 1981.   There she met Valene and they became life-long partners. 

Rachel was loving and committed with a lively, curious mind.  She was fascinated with ideas, both concrete and abstract and she loved to talk.

Rachel soon found a perfect match for her skills, interest, and unique blend of practicality and creativity in carpentry work.  She attended trade school, received her carpentry certifications and moved into building and designing houses over the next 25 years.  Their Porto Rico Road property offered Rachel the opportunity to build and create a much loved home.  Her creative energy found another outlet in her art work.  She became a well known and exhibited visual artist.  Her latest body of work focused on exploring the impact her years of carpentry work had on her art. 

On her birthday in 2021, Rachel was diagnosed with cancer.  As with everything in her life she met this challenge with courage and practicality.  Over the next year and a half her mantra became “Be joyful, though you have considered all the facts”, a quote from a Wendell Berry poem.

Rachel is survived by her partner Valene, her daughter Tennessee (Joel), grandchildren Mia and Eli, sisters Becky (Les), Helen (Wilbur), Susan (Tim ), brother Dave, a large extended family and a vibrant group of dear friends.

The outstanding support of the whole medical team in the Kootenays was fantastic and Rachel’s heart-felt thanks went out to each and everyone of you who helped her during her illness.

A gathering in her memory will be held later this spring.

Donations in her name can be made to the KLH Foundation or the Nelson Community Food Centre.

 

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