Rachel Barel

Rachel Barel



Nov. 2, 1961 - Jan, 26, 2021







Rachel Barel was born November 2, 1961 in Yosemite, California to Marcel Barel and Joan Parke Barel. In October, 1964 she came to live with Bill and Vivian Luttrell and their children Tom, Kay, Ellen, Pam and their youngest daughter Penny (who was born with Down Syndrome). Since Rachel was also born with Down Syndrome, Bill and Vivian fell in love with her from the start. She lived with them on a picturesque 20,000 plus acre cattle ranch called Rancho San Carlos, in Carmel Valley, California. She thrived there. Kay subsequently married Bobby Vaughn and moved from Prunedale, California to Coeur D'Alene, Idaho in November 1977. In August, of 1978 Rachel came to live with the Vaughn's in their huge 1908 house, sharing it with the Vaughn children, Annette, Karen, Sharon, Heather and Matthew, they also adopted in their hearts a neighborhood girl who had lost her father. Her name was Angela Russo, but was tagged "Number 6" by the family. Rachel couldn't pronounce her name, so she called her "SASA". It was a lively, loving household and she continued to thrive there. After the three oldest girls left home, Bobby, Kay, Heather, Matt and Rachel moved to Wickenburg, Arizona in December, 1985. Rachel never developed mentally past the age of two years old. Bobby lovingly called her their "Forever Baby". Although the extended family has lived in some of the most beautiful places on earth, from the coast of California to the San Joaquin Valley, Pacific Northwest and the Sonoran Desert of Arizona they realized they were moving the beauty with them in the person of Rachel. Rachel was nicknamed "Heartnice" by the family as a result of Bobby trying to discipline her in a way she could understand, He told her to be a sweetheart and be nice. She responded with "He-Heart Nice". And that evolved into "Heartnice". That was how she was known until the end, and will forever be known. Some Mesquite trees on the Vaughn's property are pruned to resemble a heartshape in her honor. Rachel passed peacefully surrounded by members of her loving family. Heather and her daughter Kaylee were holding her hands while Kay sang a spiritual her Mama had written sixty-five years ago after her daughter Penny was born. Kay, her sister Ellen and niece Tiffany were able to sing the same song as Penny passed in 2018. Kay was convinced that God placed that song on her Mama's heart years ago to sing these two Angels home to Heaven when it was time. Rachel developed a crippling disease in March 2017 that rendered her bedfast for the remainder of her life. Rachel was able to remain in the home and be cared for by family members, Sharon Vaughn, Heather Sanders and Kaylee Gaertner. That was a blessing. Bobby and Kay were in charge of Rachel's daily hugs, kisses and songs. Rachel is predeceased by her biological parents Marcel and Joan Barel, her half-brother Billy, Bill and Vivian Luttrell, brother Tom Luttrell, sisters Pam Herzog and Penny Luttrell and also a sister-in-law, Alice (Gary) Luttrell. The Luttrell's son Gary had married and moved away before Rachel came to live with the Luttrells. Rachel is survived by many loving relatives including her sister Gabrielle Barel of Las Vegas, Nevada, half sister Annie Evans of California, Bobby and Kay Vaughn of Wickenburg, Arizona, sister Ellen Luttrell of Fresno, California, brother Gary Luttrell of Patterson, California, sister-in-law Amber Luttrell (Tom) of Republic, Washington, brother-in-law Rudy Herzog (Pam) of Rathdrum, Idaho and the children of Bobby and Kay Vaughn, her sisters Annette Masingale, Wickenburg, Arizona, Karen (Tim) Belding, McMinnville, Oregon, Sharon (Fred) Hampton, Litchfield Park, Arizona, Heather (Earon) Sanders, Wickenburg, Arizona and brother Matthew (Heather) Vaughn of Bellingham, WA and Heart Sister (SASA) Angela (Shane) Harmon of Couer D'Alene, Idaho and each families children, and family and friends too numerous to mention. There will be no service at this time, but a celebration of Life is planned for later in the year. Rest in peace Heartnice.