Rachel Lou (Wright) Dayvault
April 15, 1928 ~ January 12, 2011
Dayvault, Rachel Lou (Wright), 82, homemaker, author and world traveler made her transition on Wednesday, January 12, 2011. Memorial service 3:00 p.m., Monday, January 17 at Unity Church, 2160 N. Oliver. She was born on April 15, 1928 in Chandler, Oklahoma, to Carl L. and Myrtle Landsaw Wright. Grandfather, A. D. Wright, made the 1889 Oklahoma Run and helped found the small town of Chandler. Rachel graduated from Monticello College for Women and the University of Oklahoma. She was a member of Delta Gamma Sorority and taught kindergarten prior to motherhood. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 59 years, David M. Dayvault. Though untrained, she was architect and co-designer of the couples dream home, built in 1963. She was a published writer at 16, worked as a travel writer, and contributed over three dozen creative non-fiction stories and essays to area publications. She also wrote humorous verse, one novel, and one compilation. Her wide range of interests included gardening, antiques, music, sculpture, history, art, decorating, and tennis. Her friends remember a fun-loving chocoholic drawn to practical jokes and innovative costume parties. Her 2 favorite words were, “Touchdown Oklahoma.” She was on the board of: The Kansas Writers Association, Embassy Club, Zeta, Carter Wives Club, and the OU Kappa Sigma Mothers Club. She was active in Victory in the Valley and Landmens Wives Club. A dedicated wife, mother and grandmother, she is survived by: children, David, Jr. of Wichita; Mark of Aspen, CO; Ann E. Carollo (Jim) of Prairie Village, KS; grandsons, Jim and Kenton Dayvault; Connor and Cameron Carollo; brothers, Carl, Jr. and Dan Wright. Memorials have been established at: Victory in the Valley, 3755 E. Douglas, Wichita, KS 67218; Unity Church, 2160 N. Oliver, Wichita, KS 67208. Downing Lahey Mortuary East.
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Please accept our deepest condolences for your family’s loss.
Dear grieving family. I did not know Mrs. Dayvault, but my mother, Eva Mae (Williams)Meredith, worked for Mrs. Dayvault’s grandfather, A.D. Wright, in Chandler, OK at Wright’s Drugstore in the early/mid 1930’s both as a single girl and when newly married. She thought Mr. Wright was wonderful and told some interesting stories about him. One that I remember was about the first time she closed the store for the evening along with Mr. Wright. She said that she watched him drag a chair toward the front door to climb on to enable him to reach a latch high on the door. She said, ‘Let me do that for you’, and she casually reached up and locked the door. He said, ‘Eva, you are going to close with me from now on! I have had to pull a chair up to this door every night for years!’ Mom was 5’7′ tall and she said Mr. Wright was not a tall man. She thought highly of him and said he was a wonderful boss. My father, Lawrence K. Meredith worked for Atlas Oil Field Supply Co. in Chandler. My brother was born in Chandler in an upstairs doctor’s office in 1939. Other relatives were co-owners of the ‘K and K’ furniture store on Chandler’s main street for many years. I am so glad that you put the information about Chandler in the obituary for Mrs. Dayvault. My mother would have wanted me to write you about her high regard for Mr. Wright. This is my tribute to your entire family. With my sympathy, Linda L. Byers
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Love, Roger & Nancy Farrow
Please accept our condolences. We are saddened to learn about her sudden departure. She was a dear neighbor, always with kind words and gentle responses. We will miss her and her independent spirit.