Rachelle Rene Walker-Hall

Rachelle Rene Walker-Hall transitioned into the next life while in hospice care with the love and support of her eldest children and daughter-in-law on the morning of May 13th, 2022. She was born on December 24th, 1967, in Long Beach, California, and aptly was a gift to the family and friends who would come to love her throughout her life. She earned her BAAS from Midwestern State University. Rachelle is survived by her brother Vincent Walker, sister Autumn Walker, child Aadam Wilkko, daughter Micah Morgan, son Søren Walker-Hall, wife Sarah Walker-Hall, daughter-in-law Saga Wilkko, daughter-in-law Katie Lorenz, and beloved grandson Elias Wilkko. Rachelle was predeceased by her mother Tommye Jean Antoon, father Nicholi Vincent Walker, and daughter Tennyson Rene Walker-Hall. Departing California in early childhood, Rachelle spent a large portion of her early life in Amarillo, TX. After working as a PTA in home healthcare in Wichita Falls in 1991, Rachelle continued her career in Dallas at Omnicare, a home-healthcare provider founded by her late mother-in-law Doris Louise Morgan from 1992 to 1999. Rachelle would go on to provide physical therapy to her patients in the comfort of their own homes in the DFW area until her eventual diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer and the subsequent treatments thereof would render her unable to continue her selfless work. Her patients would become fixtures in her life as she certainly was in theirs. She genuinely cared for each patient she saw in the course of her long career. Rachelle made it a habit to help others, whether it be a daily part of her career, giving gifts to underprivileged children every Christmas, or simply showing love and support to those who needed it. She was the speed-dial choice for many seeking advice. Rachelle was often referred to as a "social butterfly" and was never one to turn down a lively social event or public outing. Her children would benefit from a rich culture and the arts; she emphasized the import of events such as Symphony in the Park, Shakespeare Under the Stars, Cirque Du Soleil, Pocket Sandwich Theatre productions, and many other shows and gatherings around Dallas. She would organize countless extracurriculars for all of her children and maintained memberships with the Dallas Museum of Art, the Arboretum, the Dallas Zoo, and the Perot Museum. If there were something of beauty, interest, or culture happening in Dallas, Rachelle would make time to experience it. She wouldn't have described herself as the life of the party, but she assuredly was the light that would illuminate the room. Indisputable among any who knew her, Rachelle had a smile that would melt hearts and brighten any situation. Her smile was her trademark and her most readily available healing tool. Any who met Rachelle received a genuine exchange and a fast friend. She was honest, sometimes at the expense of immediate feelings, but that honesty made her opinions distinctly reliable. There was no doubt that she'd "give it to you straight," and solely out of love and genuine well-meaning. Rachelle endeavored to solve issues and improve situations. She was successful in her career; while not ruthlessly ambitious, Rachelle was certainly motived and driven in all aspects of her life. This propensity for success likely came from her early years where there was no shortage of hardship, and bluntly: poverty. Despite those obstacles and with no means save those for which she strove, Rachelle put herself through college, worked full time, and raised her first two children, Aadam and Micah, to adulthood as a single mother; all while maintaining a vibrant social life and providing endless opportunities for her kids. Her closest high school friends with whom she remained in contact through her adult life describe her as athletic, fun, and intelligent. They describe her wicked sense of humor, love of music, and reliability. They shared an anecdote that would sum up her drive to never give up that would carry on through all aspects of her life involving a "Cake of Doom." This particular story is worth mentioning because it so well surmises her approach to overcoming a struggle. Regarding this "Cake of Doom," a teenage Rachelle and a friend would start by over-pouring the batter which rose over the pans, setting the oven ablaze. Extinguishing the flames, they would miraculously save the bulk of the cake, albeit now with a smokey flavor. They would trim away the extra "smoked" cake and assemble the layers only to find they'd massively split the cake down the middle during layering. They would repair that San Andreas Fault with baker's adhesive: Intense Dark Chocolate frosting. They would carefully frost the entire cake relying on the intensity of the dark chocolate to mask the smokiness of the cake. Satisfied with the aesthetic of their salvaged "Cake of Doom," they would then gingerly place it in a picnic basket to get ready for the birthday party for which they had baked the cake. Dressed and ready to depart, they would return to find that a pet had gotten into the basket and had licked all of the Intense Dark Chocolate frosting from the top of the cake. They then would remove the top layer of cake, cut the contaminated edges away to reveal un-tainted cake, and re-frost the now-much-smaller cake. Finally departing, they'd present this "Cake of Doom" to friends who would thoroughly enjoy its intense chocolatey flavor only to learn the chaotic tale of its creation after its consumption. While Rachelle was an otherwise excellent cook, and while perhaps the teenage version of her was certainly not up to modern professional bakery standards; it's safe to say that her tenacity as a teenager facing a "Cake of Doom" was at the core of her being. When it came to people counting on her, Rachelle would always deliver and never back down from adversity; even if she had to change course mid-flight. She would roll with punches and make the best of mischance. Her friends in adulthood describe all of the above traits, listing also her organizational skill concerning events and household, her outgoing personality, her loyalty, and her love for home improvement and interior design. They would describe, though with some light omission, her love for a fun vacation and a good party. Rachelle was saucy! Yes, she was bold and lively and always looking smart; but she was a foodie and would unfailingly order extra sauce with her meal, be it BBQ, crème anglaise, or jalapeno ranch. Those close to her would learn that it was better to ask how a meal had tasted when she'd finished as she had a habit of only eating one individual item at a time. Rachelle preferred to have things in order and wanted to experience them in their unadulterated entirety. Volleyball, softball, flag football, and team sports generally were something she relished, always eager to join a local league. Rachelle loved a good board game or card game, but one would be remiss if they thought they might beat her. Undeniably competitive, winning was Rachelle's goal, though she was never a sore loser in the rare event she was bested by her opponent. There was one instance where her nose was broken while attempting to catch a pop fly in the glare of the noonday sun. Her brother-in-law had to convince her to go to the hospital and not finish the game. Maximum effort to win or complete a task was what she unfailingly had to offer. Even when Rachelle knew that winning wasn't even remotely possible, she never lessened her effort or phoned it in. This was true in all aspects of her life. Particularly so in her battle with cancer. Rachelle received her diagnosis when her cancer had already progressed to stage IV. While she was starkly cognizant of the fact that she would eventually join her baby girl Tennyson in the next life, Rachelle never stopped fighting to be present for her surviving youngster, Søren, or the innumerable family and friends that relied on her. Fight, she most decidedly did, through numerous taxing treatments and trials. Rachelle was honest about her condition, but she was also positive, constantly reminding loved ones of the silver linings. It's quite possible that she spent as much time consoling others about her cancer as she did on her personal soul-searching and mental health regarding her illness. It can't be overstated that Rachelle lived for those she loved, constantly beating the odds and fighting to be present for them. She did everything she could to make the most of her time with family and friends while also preparing them for her eventual transition. Rachelle Rene Walker-Hall never failed to put others first. In that spirit, Rachelle's surviving family and friends ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation in her honor.