Rachel Lee (Anderson) Howard

Rachel Howard, age 81, of Waggoner, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 7, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

A Memorial Service for Mrs. Howard will be held at a later date.

Rachel was born the daughter of Joseph and Maxine Anderson on January 23, 1944, in Alton, Illinois.

Rachel graduated from Hillsboro High School class of 1964. She pursued a career in cosmetology, making her a third-generation hairdresser. She also was a health care worker.

Mrs. Howard first married George “Karl” Edward Herder in 1966 and together they had two children, Alysia and Karl. They later divorced and Rachel moved back home to be closer to the family and raise her children.

In July of 1991, Rachel married the love of her life James “Jim” Howard. They shared 34 years of marriage traveling all over the United States in their RV making friends and creating memories along the way. She loved the RV lifestyle and the stories they made along the way. Rachel also enjoyed spending time birdwatching as well as loving on her furbabies. Her love for her family extended to the dinner table where she would make meals for all of them to enjoy and savor. Rachel adored her family and was so happy to see them when her and Jim returned to Coffeen in 2017. Her family will forever miss the love she shared with them.

Rachel is survived by her children Alysia “Lisa” (Husband, Joe) McClelland of Waggoner, and Karl (Wife, Mary) Herder of Fairbury, IL; her grandchildren Jessica and Maggie McClelland, Micheal (Wife, Laura) Herder, and Amber (Cori McManis) Herder; and her great-grandchild Amari Thomas. Surviving also are her nieces and nephews, Stuart (Jenn Scherr) Danenberger and Stacy Danenberger, children Michael and Mya Breckenridge; Angie Anderson and her son Hunter; Jennifer (Husband, Mike) Greenburg and children Ashley, Calleigh, and Laela; and Scott Anderson. She is also survived and dearly missed by the Howard Family of Sue Howard and Brian Gray, Patricia “Pat” Howard, Allen “Frank” Howard, and the grandchildren: Eric, Jason, Nikki, Alex, Dillon and Shelby, as well as several great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Howard was preceded in death by her husband Jim, her parents, her siblings Besty Anderson, Joellen (Husband, Bud) Danenberger, and Bill (Wife, Bobbie) Anderson.

Toberman-Dean Funeral Home in Coffeen is in charge of arrangements.

Condolences may be left online at www.basspattondeanfh.com.

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