Rachel Marie (Bozarth) Plympton, age 54, of Eureka, passed away October 4, 2022, in her home after a hard battle with ALS.

Rachel was born November 23, 1967, and attended public schools, graduating from Foothill High School in Bakersfield in 1985. She went on to attend San Joaquin Valley College, where she graduated with a certificate in Business and Technology in 1988. Bakersfield was her hometown and she lived there until May 23, 2012, settling in Humboldt County. She received an Associate of Arts degree from College of the Redwoods in Eureka and wanted to continue her education at CalPoly Humboldt but got sick. She received straight As in school, even while working and parenting.

Rachel worked in human services in Humboldt County, eventually retiring from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services as a Deputy Public Guardian/ Conservator. Before that, she worked in Adult Protective Services and Social Service Aid. She also worked at Redwood Adult and Teen Challenge. She became an ordained minister and considered that one of her greatest achievements. Many of the students she worked with at RATC called her “Rev Rachel,” short for “Reverend Rachel.”

Rachel loved life and lived it joyfully. She was involved in church and was a member at the Elks Lodge. On January 14, 2021, she married her husband, Greg Plympton. She enjoyed doing everything with him from traveling to riding their motorcycles. She loved her Harley! Greg and Rachel’s last cross-country trip together was an eight-month voyage in their RV coach. She called it “the longest honeymoon ever.” Together they saw the Statue of Liberty, the Mississippi River, the 911 Memorial, the Liberty Bell and more. They revisited Louisiana—one of her favorite places—and she even fulfilled a dream of hers by attending the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee.

Rachel Plympton is survived by her husband Greg Plympton; children Anthony Burns, James Feemster, Patricia Burns (and Harley Fontaine) and Jack Burns; mother Donna Langley; stepson Joshua Plympton; daughter-in-love Erin Andrade and eight grandchildren. Those grandchildren are A.J., Paislei, Travis, Carmela, Mia, Ember, Lillynne, and Peyton. She is also survived by her sister Diana Messerschmidt, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dave and Rebecca Grimm, nephews Scott Worthen and Daniel Patchin, aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends. She was preceded in death by her father Christopher Howard Bozarth, her grandson Jaxson Burns and her stepson Justin Plympton.

A memorial service for Rachel is to be held November 12, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Eureka First Baptist Church. The church is located at 422 Del Norte Street in Eureka. A reception will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Rachel’s memory can be sent to Redwood Adult and Teen Challenge, 1435 7th Street, Eureka, California, 95501.