Rachel L. Green

Rachel Lou (Palmer) Green was born October 8, 1932 to Edgar “Doc” and Zelma (Davenport) Palmer at her grandparent’s farmhouse near Chandler, OK. When sisters Lorelei and Donella greeted the new baby, Lorelei told the doctor, “Take her back, we don’t want her!” Fortunately the doctor took his $25 fee and left baby Rachel to enjoy 92 wonderful years on this Earth until her passing on May 15, 2025. 

Young redheaded Rachel enjoyed a “very happy and carefree’ childhood by the Cimarron River near Goodnight, OK, and attended Perkins grade school. Davenport and Palmer family gatherings, roller skating, box suppers, and climbing in the country church’s window to play the piano were favorite memories. Perkins always had a special place in the hearts of the Palmer girls. 

In 1944, little brother Charles “Skip” was born, and was loved and spoiled by the three sisters for the rest of his life.  Soon after, the now family of six moved to Stillwater, and Rachel graduated (along with cousin Bill King) from Stillwater High School in 1950. She worked at Midwest Creamery, was active in school activities, and advanced to the State quarterfinals in tennis, and the State semi-finals in table tennis. 

It was during her Senior year she met and fell “head over heels” for the young handsome sailor who moved in next door.  She and Richard “Dick” Green married on June 10, 1950, honeymooned at Springlake amusement park, and the girl who never spent a night away from home headed 120 miles away to a farm near Freeport, KS...just in time for her first wheat harvest. Neighbors Gladys Psfalser and Laverne Jelinek played an instrumental role in her Freeport life, and they remained lifelong friends. 

In 1953, redheaded daughter Carol was born, and added great joy to their lives then and forever.  In 1958, the family moved to a farm on the state line east of Manchester for the next 50 years, a place Rachel called “home” for the rest of her life.  She worked hard alongside Dick on the farm, as well as being a great cook, especially known for her scrumptious pies. Dick and Rachel were involved with and attended all of Carol’s school activities and were supporters of all the Manchester kids.  Other than school functions, social life consisted of playing cards with friends and going for coffee at the local cafe. 

Trips off the farm were rare except in March when attending the high school State Basketball Tournament in Oklahoma City.  Amazingly in 1977, Rachel, farm wife turned lobbyist, took her first airplane ride with sister-in-law Gerry Green to Washington, D.C.to assist congressman Glenn English in passing a $2.90 per bushel target price farm bill. The Washington D.C. trip and Dick and Rachel’s 1984 trip to Hawaii were memories of a lifetime.

Rachel stayed on the farm for five years after Dick passed away in 2001. With failing eyesight, she moved to Stillwater next door to her sister, Lorelei.  In 2013, she bought her dream home, including a big kitchen she always said she wished she had when making all of those harvest meals.  In her second chapter of Stillwater life, she enjoyed spending time with Chip, Amy, and their families, cousin get-togethers, reconnecting with old friends, and making new ones at exercise class, plus being a great game day meeting place (and sometimes B&B) for the loyal OSU Green family. Thanks to the support and love of Lorelei, cousin-in-law June King, and “adopted” daughter Debbie (Lanie)Lechtenberg, Rachel was able to live on her own in Stillwater for over 15 years.

Due to increasing health issues, Rachel chose to move to Forrest Manor care facility in Dewey, OK closer to her daughter. Carol’s daily visits, “Mom Duty” Bartlesville girls (Linda D., Felicia, Mary, Tina), and the great care and love given by the Forrest Manor family helped her make the best of her remaining three years.

                                      “See ya later Alligator”

Preceding her in death are: husband Dick, her parents Doc and Zelma, Lorelei and Bert Hejduk, Donella Palmer, Skip Palmer, in-laws Anna and Yenks Green, Feller Green, JoAnne (Green) Davis, nephews Eric Green and Rick Davis.

Left with good memories and many Rachel stories are: daughter Carol, 11 year harvest hand nephew Chip Palmer (Fran) and family, niece Amy Frank (Larry) and family, sister-in-law, Sue Palmer, brother-in-law, H.J. Green, sister-in-law, Gerry Green, Green/Davis nephews, treasured farmer nephew, Eddie Green and many close relatives and dear friends.

Memorials: Project Heart 312 W 9th Stillwater OK 74074, Forrest Manor 1410 N Choctaw Dewey OK 74029, Manchester Cemetery or Manchester Fire Department. All of these were meaningful to Rachel, and you may choose the charity of your choice.  All memorials may be made to organization of donor’s choice and can be mailed to Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 602 E. Main St., Anthony, KS 67003.  

Come casual, comfy, and cheerful to Rachel’s Celebration of Life: Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 11:15 a.m. at the Manchester Community Center, East Main Street, Manchester, OK 73758.