Rachel Owens

Rachel Kauffman Owens, age 97, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on Friday morning, January 21, 2022, at her home in Bastrop, Texas.  She was born October 22, 1924, in Liberty Hill, Texas, to David Foman Kauffman and Bessie Viola Roberts Kauffman.  In 1929, her family moved to Hills Prairie, a farming and ranching community near Bastrop.  She always considered herself a “farm girl” and loved to share stories of her childhood adventures with her friends and family and memories of doing things in “the old way”.  She loved to make jelly, mustang grape juice and pickles which she shared with family and friends.  One of her greatest joys was teaching her daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters and nieces these recipes and skills.

During World War II, there was no Baptist Church in her community so she and her friends, with the support of their families, initiated the charter of Hills Prairie Baptist Church by the Austin Baptist Association.  She loved this church and actively participated in its growth and development over the years.  Until her health prevented it, she was very active with her church and church family.  She served as Church Treasurer for many years and planned many of the church community events.

She married Doyle Colbert Owens on October 4, 1947, at Hills Prairie Baptist Church.  They had two daughters, Betsy Owens Carpenter and Cherry Owens (Dickson) Skuttle.  Rachel and her family have been active members in the Bastrop community for over seventy years through ranching, retail, education and medical contributions.  She cared deeply for her family and neighbors. She did this not out of obligation but because of who she was. She was always the first to offer help. She regularly brought meals to the home of sick friends and neighbors.  She always ensured that every child who crossed her threshold was safe, healthy, and happy.  She was also a dedicated member of Bastrop Chapter #64 of the Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron numerous times.

Rachel is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Betsy and Robert “Bob” Carpenter and Cherry and David Skuttle; her four grandchildren and spouses, Robert “Rob” and Jenny Carpenter, Erin (Carpenter) and Erick Westerholm, William C. Dickson, Sr., and Chrystal Dickson; and eight great-grandchildren: Owen and Johnathan “Jack” Carpenter; Emma, Ella, and Eden Westerholm; Sabrina Smith; and William, Jr. and Dorothy Dickson.  Rachel is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and chosen family that she had collected over her life.

The family would like to thank Hospice Austin for their compassion, attentiveness and skilled assistance and offer special thanks to LaShay Ockelberry and the Ockelberry family for their dedicated, loving care as mother’s primary caregivers.

Open visitation for her family and friends will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, February 4, 2022, at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home.  Private graveside services will be at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to your church or to your favorite charity.