James Rachel was born on October 15th, 1920 in Marmaduke, AR. He was the third oldest in a family of nine….seven boys and two girls. Two short years later he and the family moved to Dexter, MO which became their permanent home. James graduated from Dexter High School in 1939.
He enjoyed his years in High School with his brothers, singing and playing football. He graduated in 1939. He met his wife Mary in high school. He worked at Hubbard Market while in high school, as well as, after graduation. At Hubbard he learned the meat cutting business and eventually became a
master butcher. James and his brother Wilburn joined the Missouri National Guard soon thereafter. He got married to Mary in October of 1942. He then was stationed at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas and soon after shipped out to the South Pacific where he served his country throughout World War II. When the war ended he was Honorably Discharged from the Army as a First Sargent/E8.
After discharge, Jame’s military troop ship brought him to Seattle, WA. He and Mary began settling their life and future in Beaverton, OR. They had two children, Dennis (born 5/31/1944) and Cheryl (born 3/3/1947). Dennis has two son’s (Scott and Kevin) and Cheryl’s has two daughters (Ashley and Triffy). James loved his grandkids. James tried selling and investing in residential real estate in Beaverton, OR, but post war economies weren’t a favorable fit. He then joined the US Postal Service December 5th, 1947 as a rural route carrier and eventually rose to become Postmaster. He retired
in 1978 and dedicated his time on a courageous fight with cancer, which eventually took his life on August 25th, 1982.
James was a well a respected civil servant and community leader. He was a loving father, mentor to his children, grandchildren, a loving and dedicated father and grandfather and loving husband. Not to forget…loving his hunting and fishing.
