Rachel Lydia (Koester) Clifton was called to her Heavenly home on February 20, 2024. She was born to Paul & Lydia Koester in Centralia, IL on July 6, 1937. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church on July 18, 1937. Rachel graduated from Centralia High School, where she was involved in the school’s band and was their baton twirler. She later attended St. John’s college in Windfield, KS, and Millikin University in Decatur, IL where she obtained degree in education. She went on to teach at Lutheran schools in Defiance, OH; Decatur, IL; and Ferrin, IL. She later went back to school for Floral Design & Cake Decorating at Frank Phillips College in Borger, TX.
Rachel married the love of her life, Gary Dean Clifton, on July 5, 1959 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Centralia, IL. They were married for 64 wonderful years until her passing. Their marriage was blessed with two children: Diana L. Clifton and Gary Craig Clifton. Due to her husband’s work with Natural Gas Pipeline Co, they were transferred to Hammond, IL; Conroe, TX; and Borger, TX. Gary retired from Natural Gas Pipeline Co in 1997 after 35 years of service, and he then went to work for Texas Dept of Criminal Justice for 5 years. After he retired again, they moved to Fredericksburg, TX where they lived for 20 years. They then moved to Mustang, OK be closer to their son and other relatives.
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