Rachael Young

Rachael Helen Young, 86, of Cape Girardeau passed from this life Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, at Southeast Hospital surrounded by her family.

She was born Nov. 3, 1934, in Garden City, Kansas, to Leslie Harold and Helen Halleck Tubbs Pennington. During the western Kansas dust bowl days, her family moved to the Labette County, Kansas, area where other relatives were living. Rachael graduated from Labette County High School in the class of 1952 and later that same year, she and John Edward Young were married Aug. 31, 1952, in Altamont, Kansas.

After her wedding, she attended Ottawa University in Kansas and Kent State University in Ohio, studying vocal music.

Rachael moved to Cape Girardeau with her family in 1968, when John joined the faculty of Southeast Missouri State University. She was active as a volunteer in the community, which included a local group to assist families of those with Down syndrome and the Head Start program when it began here in the 1970s.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cape Girardeau, where for many years she served as a children's Sunday school teacher and was part of the Sanctuary Choir, women's trio and a soloist. She was also active in the Missouri Baptists Women's Choir. When she sang, it was clear in her countenance she was worshiping the Lord from her heart.

Rachael Young

More than her volunteer and church activities, Rachael found her greatest joy and purpose in being a wife and mother, considering this a very high calling. Of high importance was sharing from her faith in Christ and cultivating a love of God's Word in her family. She passed on her love of music to her children, using her pocket money for piano lessons for six of them. The love of music has passed down through the generations with children and grandchildren continuing to study and perform in music, many making it their careers, and to this day music fills the room when the family gathers at holiday time. Those who know her best describe her as a kind, gentle and gracious friend.

Survivors include her husband, John E. Young of Cape Girardeau; three sons, Lawrence "Larry" (Deborah) Young of Cape Girardeau, Eric (Nanci) Young of Pocahontas, Arkansas, and Bryan (Amy) Young of Jackson; four daughters, Melinda (Michael) Mullins of Waterloo, Illinois, Kirsten (Christopher) Rasche of Rogers, Arkansas, and Sarah Young and Lucinda "Cindy" Young, both of Cape Girardeau; son-in-law, Carl "David" Atkins of Cape Girardeau; brother, William Pennington of Sacramento, California; sister, Margaret (John) Cosby of Mesa, Arizona; 18 grandchildren, Crystal Monahan (Mark Hudoba), Carly (Lee) Winters, Jessica Atkins, Lauren (Joseph) Thomas, Andrew (Kristie) Young, Jonathan (Natalie) Young, Erin (Cody) Ivy, Mary Kathryn "Katie" Young, Jason Young, Elise Mullins, Sean Mullins, Lindsay (Ryan) Reams, Veronica Young, Kendall Young, Michael (Lisa) Rasche, Allison (Scott) Brenner, Caitlin (Tyler) Rodgers and Stephen Rasche; 16 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Rachael was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Rebecca Atkins; brother, Eugene Pennington; and sister, Eleanor Potter.

Friends may call from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Mike Shupert officiating. Burial will be at Fairmount Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to First Baptist Church or Multiple Myeloma Foundation.

Online condolences may be sent at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.