Rachel Mae McClelland

The angels are rejoicing! Rachel Mae (Baker) McClelland, 84, formerly of Ursa, Illinois, currently residing in Phoenix, AZ , went home to be with Jesus on January 14, 2023. Born October 11, 1938 in Quincy, Illinois, daughter of the late Estile and Eva Mae Baker, Rachel married Richard McClelland on August 30, 1958. During her early married years in Illinois, Rachel was blessed to be able to be a stay-at-home mom with her three children while also being a well regarded seamstress in Adams County. She received her Associates Degree from John Wood Community College and Hannibal LaGrange University. When they later moved to Arizona in 1986, Rachel and Richard owned and managed three hotel gifts shops, R & R Gift Village.

Rachel loved the Lord with all her heart. She loved her family; her life consisted of loving, helping and serving others. She enjoyed going to musicals, sewing, cheering on her family, friends, and foreign exchange students, ventriloquism with Corky, creating personal cards and anything to bring joy to others. She was involved with Awana, church camps, mentoring, and being assistant to her daughter’s plays. Rachel loved the outdoors: camping, gardening, hiking, swimming and traveling. After retiring, Rachel and Richard spent ten years traveling in their motor home in Colorado, the northwest, and Canada. They spent a summer volunteering at Yellowstone National Park and spent the school years volunteering at Arizona Christian University. In addition to her parents, Rachel is preceded in death by her sister, Janeen Baker. Survivors include her loving husband, Richard McClelland of Phoenix, AZ; children Dixie (Tim) Reed, Lorie (John) Sirola, and Kevin McClelland; grandchildren Tara (Will) Miller, T.J. (Becca) Reed, Jack McClelland, Libby McClelland, Alex Sirola, and Jake Sirola; great grandchildren Liam Miller, Nico Miller, Ira Reed, and Ariana Miller; sister Sylvia (Baker) Steel, and dearly loved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Rachel’s Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. at Oasis Community Church, 15014 N. 56th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Donations may be made in Rachel’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association and condolences, flowers, cards sent to Oasis Community Church.