Rachel Louise Blackwood, 18 years old, passed away peacefully at home with her mother on June 2, 2006 in Prescott, Arizona. Rachel was born in Livermore, California. She and her family moved to Prescott in 1994, and she graduated with honors from Prescott High School in 2005. She was the recipient of the President's Award for Excellence scholarship to the University of Arizona in honor of her outstanding academic achievements.
Rachel joined the Masonic community every 4th of July to pull weeds and help maintain the Prescott Pioneers cemetery. She was often seen volunteering at Sharlot Hall museum. Rachel devoted time to Granite Gate retirement center organizing arts & crafts. As a high school senior, Rachel ran the after-school clubs program at Abia Judd Elementary School, where she planned, executed and supervised "club" activities. This experience inspired her to go to the University of Arizona with a double major, Education and Political Science. Her dream was to teach children in underprivileged countries.
Rachel leaves behind her mother, Laura Blackwood; her sister, Roxanne Blackwood; and her grandparents, Winifred and Charlie Harbeson, all of Prescott, Arizona, as well as her father and stepmother, Bob and Patti Blackwood, of Kelseyville, California. Rachel will also be deeply missed by her aunts and uncles, along with eight cousins.
Rachel was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Prescott, Arizona, for six years. She believed that only through a life of service, charity, and love could one ever truly be happy. She was Worthy Advisor of her local chapter in 2003. She continued on to represent her assembly at the state level, serving as Grand Musician.
Rachel was dedicated to serving others in her community; the following are her own words: "As you know, I have been diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), and this has forced my stay at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. My illness has given me time to think about things. I have received an outpouring of love and charity from my community. It has made me realize just how important the lesson of charity is. Charity is the unselfish giving of oneself to another, and through these past few troubling weeks I have come to realize how important it is to have people in my life that care. Though this illness may slow me down a bit, it will give me the opportunity to convey the message of charity to others in my community and show them there truly are other treasures contained in the pot of gold that I have found in a life of service."
The dignity, courage and grace Rachel reflected over her last few months could only flow from a wise "old" soul. While the world has lost the opportunity to spend more time with Rachel and to learn from her, we should all take note of her message.
Rachel joined the Masonic community every 4th of July to pull weeds and help maintain the Prescott Pioneers cemetery. She was often seen volunteering at Sharlot Hall museum. Rachel devoted time to Granite Gate retirement center organizing arts & crafts. As a high school senior, Rachel ran the after-school clubs program at Abia Judd Elementary School, where she planned, executed and supervised "club" activities. This experience inspired her to go to the University of Arizona with a double major, Education and Political Science. Her dream was to teach children in underprivileged countries.
Rachel leaves behind her mother, Laura Blackwood; her sister, Roxanne Blackwood; and her grandparents, Winifred and Charlie Harbeson, all of Prescott, Arizona, as well as her father and stepmother, Bob and Patti Blackwood, of Kelseyville, California. Rachel will also be deeply missed by her aunts and uncles, along with eight cousins.
Rachel was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Prescott, Arizona, for six years. She believed that only through a life of service, charity, and love could one ever truly be happy. She was Worthy Advisor of her local chapter in 2003. She continued on to represent her assembly at the state level, serving as Grand Musician.
Rachel was dedicated to serving others in her community; the following are her own words: "As you know, I have been diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), and this has forced my stay at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. My illness has given me time to think about things. I have received an outpouring of love and charity from my community. It has made me realize just how important the lesson of charity is. Charity is the unselfish giving of oneself to another, and through these past few troubling weeks I have come to realize how important it is to have people in my life that care. Though this illness may slow me down a bit, it will give me the opportunity to convey the message of charity to others in my community and show them there truly are other treasures contained in the pot of gold that I have found in a life of service."
The dignity, courage and grace Rachel reflected over her last few months could only flow from a wise "old" soul. While the world has lost the opportunity to spend more time with Rachel and to learn from her, we should all take note of her message.
Rachel Louise Blackwood, 18 years old, passed away peacefully at home with her mother on June 2, 2006 in Prescott, Arizona. Rachel was born in Livermore, California. She and her family moved to Prescott in 1994, and she graduated with honors from Prescott High School in 2005. She was the recipient of the President's Award for Excellence scholarship to the University of Arizona in honor of her outstanding academic achievements.
Rachel joined the Masonic community every 4th of July to pull weeds and help maintain the Prescott Pioneers cemetery. She was often seen volunteering at Sharlot Hall museum. Rachel devoted time to Granite Gate retirement center organizing arts & crafts. As a high school senior, Rachel ran the after-school clubs program at Abia Judd Elementary School, where she planned, executed and supervised "club" activities. This experience inspired her to go to the University of Arizona with a double major, Education and Political Science. Her dream was to teach children in underprivileged countries.
Rachel leaves behind her mother, Laura Blackwood; her sister, Roxanne Blackwood; and her grandparents, Winifred and Charlie Harbeson, all of Prescott, Arizona, as well as her father and stepmother, Bob and Patti Blackwood, of Kelseyville, California. Rachel will also be deeply missed by her aunts and uncles, along with eight cousins.
Rachel was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Prescott, Arizona, for six years. She believed that only through a life of service, charity, and love could one ever truly be happy. She was Worthy Advisor of her local chapter in 2003. She continued on to represent her assembly at the state level, serving as Grand Musician.
Rachel was dedicated to serving others in her community; the following are her own words: "As you know, I have been diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), and this has forced my stay at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. My illness has given me time to think about things. I have received an outpouring of love and charity from my community. It has made me realize just how important the lesson of charity is. Charity is the unselfish giving of oneself to another, and through these past few troubling weeks I have come to realize how important it is to have people in my life that care. Though this illness may slow me down a bit, it will give me the opportunity to convey the message of charity to others in my community and show them there truly are other treasures contained in the pot of gold that I have found in a life of service."
The dignity, courage and grace Rachel reflected over her last few months could only flow from a wise "old" soul. While the world has lost the opportunity to spend more time with Rachel and to learn from her, we should all take note of her message.
Rachel joined the Masonic community every 4th of July to pull weeds and help maintain the Prescott Pioneers cemetery. She was often seen volunteering at Sharlot Hall museum. Rachel devoted time to Granite Gate retirement center organizing arts & crafts. As a high school senior, Rachel ran the after-school clubs program at Abia Judd Elementary School, where she planned, executed and supervised "club" activities. This experience inspired her to go to the University of Arizona with a double major, Education and Political Science. Her dream was to teach children in underprivileged countries.
Rachel leaves behind her mother, Laura Blackwood; her sister, Roxanne Blackwood; and her grandparents, Winifred and Charlie Harbeson, all of Prescott, Arizona, as well as her father and stepmother, Bob and Patti Blackwood, of Kelseyville, California. Rachel will also be deeply missed by her aunts and uncles, along with eight cousins.
Rachel was a member of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in Prescott, Arizona, for six years. She believed that only through a life of service, charity, and love could one ever truly be happy. She was Worthy Advisor of her local chapter in 2003. She continued on to represent her assembly at the state level, serving as Grand Musician.
Rachel was dedicated to serving others in her community; the following are her own words: "As you know, I have been diagnosed with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia), and this has forced my stay at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. My illness has given me time to think about things. I have received an outpouring of love and charity from my community. It has made me realize just how important the lesson of charity is. Charity is the unselfish giving of oneself to another, and through these past few troubling weeks I have come to realize how important it is to have people in my life that care. Though this illness may slow me down a bit, it will give me the opportunity to convey the message of charity to others in my community and show them there truly are other treasures contained in the pot of gold that I have found in a life of service."
The dignity, courage and grace Rachel reflected over her last few months could only flow from a wise "old" soul. While the world has lost the opportunity to spend more time with Rachel and to learn from her, we should all take note of her message.
