February 8, 1978 – October 5, 2015
Rachel Dorothy Fetzer passed away peacefully in the presence of family at West Hills Health and Rehab Assisted Living Facility in Knoxville on October 5, 2015. She was 37 years old.
Rachel was born on February 8, 1978 in Oak Ridge. Her parents were John Woodrow Fetzer, Jr., M.D., and Rose Ann Woodson Fetzer of Jefferson City. Rachel graduated from Jefferson County High School with honors in 1996. She attended University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom in the spring of 1998 and served an internship for Lloyd’s Bank of London. She graduated from Indiana University – Purdue University of Indianapolis, IN with honors in May 2005. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her major was Liberal Arts Communication Studies and she also completed English/Business and Professional Writing Studies. She has been a member of Mill Springs Baptist Church, Jefferson City, for many years. Her devout faith was an inspiration to many.
She was preceded in death by her father, Dr. John Fetzer; sister, Carol Fetzer; grandparents, Dr. Hylan Woodson and Dorothy Reagan Woodson; grandfather, John W. Fetzer, Sr. She is survived by her grandmother, Helen Fetzer of Elizabethton; her mother, Rose Ann Fetzer of Jefferson City; sister, Sherry Fetzer of Knoxville; sister, Angela Fetzer of Knoxville; and sister, Catherine Branson and husband, Alex of Jefferson City; niece, Kate Branson of Jefferson City; aunt, Marie Bryant and husband, Robert of Ocoee; uncle, Robert Fetzer of Roanoke, VA; uncle, Dr. Daniel Fetzer and wife, Beth of Oak Ridge; aunt, Nancy Hazzard of Princeton, KY; aunt, Betty Bak and husband, Ed of St. Louis, MO; aunt, Barbara Wolford and husband, Jim of Owensboro, KY. She was also blessed to have many cousins in various cities throughout the United States.
She was a world traveler with extensive travels to many countries including England, Italy, Germany and Canada. She loved traveling and being with family and friends. Rachel had many presidential ties including kinship with President Ronald Reagan through her grandmother, Dorothy Reagan; her granddaddy, John Woodrow Fetzer, Sr., was named for President Woodrow Wilson; She received a signed poster personally from President Bill Clinton, and her daddy was president of his graduating medical class. Her most valuable association was in being a child of God and having a strong faith in salvation through Jesus. She so loved her church and her family of God.
Memorial services were held for her at Mill Springs Baptist Church on October 17, 2015 at 2 p.m. with Pastor Greg Lindsey officiating. Her family wishes to thank all those who have been so kind and generous throughout her amazing journey of life. We have been so blessed by her presence and the love of many friends on her behalf. Her family requests that memorial donations be made to Mill Springs Baptist Church, 2510 North Highway 92, Jefferson City, TN 37760.