Rachelle McAffrey

(From Clark Funeral Home)

Rachelle (DePriest) McAffrey of Wyandotte, Oklahoma, passed away at 3:44 p.m. on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at the age of 57. Rachelle was born on September 14, 1964, in Neosho, Missouri, to Dale and Carolyn (Hathaway) DePriest.

Rachelle attended school in Seneca, Missouri, graduating in 1982. She spent all her adult life in food service, working at McDonald’s in Joplin, Missouri, for 13 years and as their General Manager for the last eight years. 

Rachelle went to work for Smith Foods in 1995, working as an area manager over several different food service locations and catering numerous large meals for locations in industrial plants in the area. In 2008 Smith Foods became Imperial, Inc, and Rachelle worked for ten additional years, taking early retirement in 2018. Rachelle loved to work and keep a fast pace. She enjoyed people and knew how to work hard and make things fun for her employees. Rachelle also owned a commercial poultry operation, growing broiler chickens for Tyson Foods, along with her Dad and her husband, Rodney. 

Rachelle married Rodney McAffrey on July 25, 2014, in Miami, Oklahoma, or as she called it, “the best day of her life.” Rachelle loved her family and friends. She always tried to put them first. She liked to spoil those close to her, and her absolute favorite was to spoil Rodney. Rodney spoiled her, as well. They were a team and shared a love most people never get to experience. She considered herself lucky and blessed.

Preceding her in death, her mother and best friend, Carolyn DePriest, brother Ricky DePriest, stepbrother Wes Chidester, and her Uncle John Francisco.

Survivors include her husband Rodney McAffrey, of the home; her Dad and stepmother Dale and Shirley DePriest of Wyandotte, Oklahoma; two brothers, Randy DePriest and his wife Debbie, of Coffeyville, Kansas, and Rodney DePriest of Joplin; three stepdaughters, Dana Little and Mat, of Joplin, Stacey Hamilton and her husband Ben, of Joplin, Valan Wallace-Graves and her husband Jeff, of Springfield, Missouri; two brothers-in-law, Ronnie McAffrey and his wife Carol, of Baxter Springs, Kansas, and Rudy McAffrey of Oklahoma City; sisters-in-law, Renee McCool and her husband Jim, of Pierce City, Missouri, Cindy McAffrey and her husband Russell, of Virginia, and Sally McAffrey of Neosho, Missouri; one stepsister, Sheila Lile and her husband Rick, of Seneca; eight nieces and nephews, 18 great-nieces and nephews; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of beloved extended family and friends. A special appreciation dedicated to her aunts, Barbara and Jeannie, who were instrumental in her life and care, her dear friend Jackie Kennedy, and her beloved dog Peyton.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at the Clark Funeral Home Chapel of Memories in Neosho, with her brother Randy DePriest officiating. The family will receive friends from 9:00-10:00 a.m. before the funeral home chapel service. Memorial donations may be made in Rachelle’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Hospital on their website or c/o Clark Funeral Home, PO Box 66, Neosho, MO 64850.