Rachel Lee Murphy Hoornstra

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the LORD; The humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me, And delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:1-5

Rachel Lee Hoornstra, age 80, widow of F. Bruce Hoornstra, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, January 5, 2026.

Rachel was born in Union, SC, on October 5, 1945 to the late Richard Dewey Murphy and Crystal Lee (Wilburn) Murphy of nearby Cross Keys. The fourth of six children, her childhood was punctuated with sweet family memories made on the family farm where music and hard work were a common theme. These gospel songs from her childhood comforted her up to her very last days. Among her favorite songs were A Beautiful Life, Jesus Hold My Hand, and Just a Little Talk with Jesus.

After graduating from Union High School in 1963, she attended Gardner Webb College in North Carolina and earned an associate degree in bookkeeping. After college, Rachel moved back home and swiftly put her skills to work while also helping on the farm. In 1966, she had the opportunity to visit her sister in Washington State and so started the next phase of her life.

Through her involvement with the choir at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, she met her future husband, Bruce Hoornstra, and they eventually were married on Father’s Day in the summer of 1968. Although their wedding took place in her home state of South Carolina, the newlywed couple started immediately putting down roots in Washington State as they both started working for The Boeing Company – Bruce in engineering, Rachel in data input. She loved learning new things and quickly became adept at operating the key punch machine to feed data into the massive new computers.

Not too many years later, they were blessed with children – Alan in ’71, Michael in ’73, and Bonnie in ’77. This new time in Rachel’s life was focused on caring for her growing children, as well as supporting her neighbors, friends, and local church as often as she could. She was a familiar face at the kids’ schools, volunteering or giving rides, and was also known to pick up odd jobs as needed. Her contentment in the Lord, and the strong work ethic, that had been instilled in her from an early age, served her well during these years of running their household. Her ability to take things in stride was crucial in balancing all the many demands that were made on her, including Bruce’s intense work schedules and her desire to be a good steward of their resources. Yet in the work, Rachel’s motive – her love for people – shone through.

Rachel’s devotion to her family continued even as her children pursued their career paths and married. Sunday afternoon dinners were just one way she continued to be the hub of the family, which quickly included her cherished grandchildren! These years also allowed her to devote time to other things, like attending family reunions and traveling with her husband. She loved to see new things and had an adventurous, yet quiet, spirit. However, any time she was with family was her true favorite. Nothing could make her smile like singing a song with one of her kids or grandkids. She will always be remembered for her sweet spirit and her faith and complete trust in God.

She was preceded in death by her husband, F. Bruce Hoornstra and her siblings, Frances Offer, Mary Ruth May, and David Murphy.

She is survived by her three children, Alan, Michael, and Bonnie, as well as her children-in-law, Samuel, Emily, and Tifani, and nine grandchildren, Grant, Elijah, Brooklyn, Isaac, Austin, Joel, Natalie, Carson, and Claire. She is also survived by her siblings, R.D. Murphy and Linda (Murphy) Wilbanks, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial services to honor Rachel and to share memories with family and friends will be held both in South Carolina and in Washington State.

April 11th at 3PM at Padgett's Creek Baptist Church, 843 Old Buncombe Rd. Union, South Carolina 29379. https://www.padgettscreekbaptistchurch.com/. Please contact Ann Murphy at 864-466-2287 if you plan to attend.

May 9 at 11AM Holy Trinity Edmonds 657 Daley St. Edmonds, Washington 98020. https://www.holytrinityedmonds.com/

Announcement Courtesy of the S.R. Holcombe Funeral Home