She was born on August 7, 1952 in Colorado City to Emerson and Doris McCarthy Garrett.
Rachel lived most of her life in Colorado City where she graduated from Colorado High in 1970 in the top 10 of her class. She was a woman of great character, she had a sweet side but could be quite ornery and stubborn, which fit very well with her jobs as a dispatcher, jailer, and an office clerk for a justice of the peace. Rachel worked as a dispatcher in Hobbs New Mexico for many years, as a dispatcher and a jailer for Mitchell County for even more, and retired as the office clerk for Mitchell County Justice of the Peace, and she was exceptional at all of those jobs. Rachel was a great mother and an even better grandmother. She loved her family with all her heart, even her numerous nieces and nephews, and they loved her just as much. If Rachel liked you, you knew it, and she was not afraid to speak her mind when she did not like you either. In her spare time she enjoyed reading and testing her intelligence by doing crossword puzzles. She will be dearly missed by her family and extended work family.
Rachel is survived by her children Julio Mendoza Gardner and significant other April Lenard of Colorado City and Celinda King and husband Mark of Colorado City, by grandchildren Adam Lloyd and wife Crystal, Tommy James and wife Nanna, Christopher Stewart, Taleya James, Aaron Gardner and wife Tiffany, Azmen Gardner, Sequise Jones, Teafale Lenard Sr., Xavien Lenard, Shawtavia Wright, and Delante Ziggler, and by great grandchildren Kayden, Bryce, and Stella Lloyd, Kalea Russell, and Sienna and Kylen James. She is also survived by sisters Carolyn Maberry of Colorado City, June Hickson and husband Harlen of Potosi, by brothers Mack Garrett of Colorado City, and Willie Garrett and wife Mildred of Colorado City, as well as by a host of nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents Emerson and Doris Garrett, by brothers Tom Garrett and Jerry Garrett, by a sister Jo Nell Pilkington, by sister-in-laws Mary Tarter Garrett and Marie Free Garrett, and by brother-in-laws Larry Maberry and Charlie Pilkington.
A funeral service for Rachel will be held at Kiker Seale Funeral Home in Colorado City on Friday, May 27th at 10 am with Deacon Julie Erwin officiating, the family will receive friends at the Kiker Seale Funeral Home on Thursday, May 26th from 5-7 pm.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Patrick Toombs, Mike Redwine, Jeremiah Witte, Carolyn Jeter, Tera Williams, Rick Grissam, Jack Green, Jimmy Brown, and Dickey Summner.
Those wishing are encouraged to share a memory by visiting www.kikerseale.com
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