Mrs. Raquel Horn Congleton, born July 5, 1931 in Kerens, TX, died peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones on May 27, 2021. She was a long-time member and Elder of the First Christian Church in Barbourville.
Raquel was married to Conley C. Congleton on November 29, 1958 in Barbourville, and they had three daughters, Adele C. Grout and husband, Robert, of Cincinnati, OH, Karen C. Kelley and husband, Michael, of Apex, NC and Mary Conley Congleton of Barbourville. She had four grandchildren, Elizabeth Kelley, Jonathan Kelley, Connor Grout and Logan Grout.
Raquel received her nursing degree from Texas Wesleyan College in Fort Worth in 1956 and moved to Harlan to work as an obstetrics nurse at the John L. Lewis Miners’ Hospital. After marrying Conley and moving to Barbourville, she worked briefly as a nurse at Union College before taking up employment at the Knox County General Hospital in nursing and later, as continuing education instructor.
After her daughters were born, Raquel changed her focus from nursing to full-time mother and became involved in their school and extracurricular activities including school room mother, Girl Scout leader, PTA President, Knox Central Band Booster, Knox Central High School Girls’ Basketball parent and Sunday School teacher.
She became involved over time with many activities that supported the Barbourville and Knox County communities including the Barbourville Woman’s Study Club, Knox County Hospital Auxiliary, Knox County Board of Health, Town & Country Homemakers Club and Knox County Extension Service Board. Raquel enjoyed piecing quilts, sewing many forms of needlework, basket weaving, traveling, gardening and cooking for family and friends.
Raquel was preceded in death by her parents, John Archie Horn and Mattie Dee Horn of Corsicana, TX; beloved husband, Conley C. Congleton; her brother, Theron Horn and wife, Ima; sisters, Sammie Burns and husband, Lonnie, Joy Nelson and husband, John, and Doris Horn and brothers-in-law, Vernie Jordan and Robert Lee Congleton.
Other survivors include her sister, Billie Jordan of Albuquerque, NM; sister-in-law, Carolyn Congleton of Barbourville and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Her funeral service will be conducted at the First Christian Church of Barbourville Wednesday, June 2 at 11:30 A.M. with Rev. Greg McClellan officiating. She will be laid to rest in the Barbourville Cemetery.
Friends may call at the church Wednesday after 10 A.M. until the funeral hour.
The family wishes to thank special friends, Caroline Mills and Jane Ledford for their love, care and support, as well as Bluegrass Care Navigators.
Donations may be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 414, Barbourville, KY 40906 in her memory.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Knox Funeral Home.
