Rachel Rooney McClanahan

Rachel Rooney McClanahan, age 54, passed away on Tuesday April 4, 2017 at her home in Roswell, GA following a four year battle with appendiceal cancer. She was a wonderful mother, daughter, sister, aunt, wife and friend to many. She was an active member of the Roswell Presbyterian Church.

She was born on September 2, 1962 in Linton, IN to Ray Arlen Parkerson and Janet Marie Fuller Parkerson. The family ultimately settled in Naperville, IL which Rachel considered to be her hometown.

After graduating with a double major in education and special education from Northern Illinois University, Rachel accepted her first teaching position in Houston working with a classroom of children with Down Syndrome. While there, she married her first husband and the father of her three children, Paul Rooney. After moving to Georgia, Rachel spent time volunteering at Atlanta Pet Rescue, working as a secretary for All Saints Episcopal Church, and substitute teaching. Eventually she returned to full time teaching at Mimosa Elementary School in Roswell, where she taught for nearly 10 years. In 2011 she married John Patrick McClanahan, acquiring three step-children in the process. Always a champion for higher education, she continued to learn and completed her Masters in Education.

Active her entire life, she loved sports - both watching and playing them. She loved to swim and play tennis. She was both a baseball and soccer Mom thanks to her talented children. Her son Brian was a gifted young actor, and Rachel took on the role of Stage Manager for some of his productions. She loved her Chicago sports teams, but none more than her Chicago Cubs.

In 2012, she was diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. Despite a poor prognosis, she refused to surrender hope. During the four years that followed her diagnosis, she traveled with her family to Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, and several retreats to the beach. Especially important to her was her trip to New Orleans with her daughter, Kelly. She lived heroically, never surrendering, always hopeful. She will be remembered for her relentless kindness, faithfulness, devotion, and sense of humor.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Parkerson and her niece Delaney Parkerson. She is survived by her husband John Patrick McClanahan, her children Brian Paul Rooney, Jacob Clifford Rooney and Kelly Lacy Rooney, her brothers David and Douglas Parkerson, and her mother Janet Parkerson. She is also survived by two step-sons, Devor and Drew McClanahan, a step-daughter, Cristin McClanahan Conrad, and a step-grandson Walter Conrad.

A memorial service will be held Saturday April 15, 2017 at 9:30 AM in the historic sanctuary of Roswell Presbyterian Church located at 755 Mimosa Blvd in Roswell GA 30075 with a reception to follow.

A special thank you to the medical professionals at Atlanta Cancer Care at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta, Visiting Nurses Hospice also of Atlanta, and to the many wonderful ministers and lay leaders at Roswell Presbyterian Church. The latter provided so many meals, visits, flowers, and all types of assistance throughout this difficult time and our gratitude is unending.

Gifts may be made on her behalf to one of the three causes most important to her:

The American Cancer Society

Atlanta Pet Rescue

The Rachel Rooney McClanahan Camp Scholarship Fund at Roswell Presbyterian Church