Our mother Rachel La Verne (Gilmer) was born on 12 March 1917. ( Dyersberg, TN.) She had three sisters and four brothers. Her younger sister (Johnnie) Virginia was very supportive and helpful to her throughout her life. Rachel worked on a farm and was married at the age of 16 (Paul DUFFY). She had four children, Hazel, Ora Bell, Shirley, John. Her family was very important to her. As children we would often visit our Aunts, Uncles and cousins as this was our main source of entertainment in those days. She was always happiest when she was surrounded by her family. Rachel enjoyed working outside and loved to sit in the yard in the evening. She could fall asleep anywhere and enjoyed fishing with her husband (Jim JOHNSON) . She had a taste for sweets and wearing pretty jewelry. She like to rearrange the furniture and even when money was scarce she would bring in wild flowers to brighten up a room. She would put extra effort to make her family's meals special. She could often in the kitchen and she was always wearing an apron. She would have a clean crisply starched table cloth on the table with a pretty flower center piece from flowers she had picked. Even if there was very little food or money, she always made a good meal and enjoyed sharing it with others. If you ever visited her home there was always a cup of coffee, good food, and conversation about the Lord. She never had a lot but what she had she was always willing to share and the Lord always provided. She was a good loving mother. She taught her children to be, honest, caring and to share with others. She would have her children ask their Father (Paul DUFFY) to take them all to the show for a treat. She would fix her daughter's hair with finger waves and rags yo make them look and feel pretty. She always loved and supported her children whenever they needed it. When Rachel became a Christian she devoted herself to praying for her family. Her greatest wish and her whole reason for being was to have her family know the Lord in a personal way and for them to know the joy she had in Him. She loved singing and music and enjoyed being in the church choir. She will be fondly remembered fondly by many for her smile as she sang and clapped her hands. She did work in the church and was always faithful to pay her tithe. She loved children and led many she baby-sat to the Lord. She was looking forward to going "home" to be with her Lord, but her last thoughts were for her family and that her prayers for them would be continued after she was gone. Even when she could barely speak she conveyed her love for the Lord and to each of her loved ones. Rachel will be missed by many.

Things That will always bring Rachel to mind:
Hymns
Juicy Fruit Gum
Snoring
Peach Cobbler
German Chocolate Cake
Cabbage & Meatloaf
Toothpick
Pretty Polished Nails
Hard Candy
Smiles & Laughter

With love from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren