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In Loving Memory

Portrait of Rebecca Lynn Wallace

Rebecca Lynn Wallace

1956 – 2025

Devoted mother, loving grandmother, and lifelong caregiver

Her Story

Rebecca Lynn Wallace was born on October 4, 1956, in Salina, Kansas, to Jean and Oliver Wallace. She made Hutchinson her home for the rest of her life.

A school portrait of Rebecca as a girl
A school portrait from her early years. · c. 1965

She grew up in Kansas, and over the years she made it a warmer place for just about everyone who crossed her path.

A young Rebecca doing a handstand in the yard
A handstand in the yard. · c. 1972

Caring for people was her calling long before it was her job. She spent years as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Hutchinson’s nursing homes, then went on to care for seniors in their own homes.

It was the kind of work that doesn’t make headlines but holds a community together. The people she looked after remembered her patience, her humor, and the way she could make a hard day feel a little lighter.

Rebecca with baby Garrett and his father, David, in early 1977
Rebecca with baby Garrett and his father, David — a young family in early 1977.

She raised a houseful of kids, and that same warmth filled her own home. Rebecca loved a full house. She hosted the holidays, kept everyone fed — her meatloaf was famous for a reason — and had a knack for pulling people together and keeping them laughing.

Young Garrett and his grandmother at left, among a crowd of nieces and nephews at a family gathering
A full house, the way she liked it — young Garrett and his grandmother at left, among a crowd of nieces and nephews. · c. 1986

If you were lucky enough to land at her table, you left feeling looked after.

Her soft spot for strays was legendary. There was always a rescue dog or two underfoot and a collie at her side, and every stray cat in the neighborhood knew exactly whose porch to visit.

Rebecca outdoors with one of her dogs, 1990s
Never without a dog at her side. · c. 1995

She found her quiet outdoors and in the garden, hands in the dirt — happiest when she was tending something, whether a plant, an animal, or a person.

Rebecca with her granddaughter Natalie
With her granddaughter Natalie. · c. 2012

Rebecca leaves behind her partner, Daniel Clapp; her daughter, Anissa (Jeff); and her sons, Garrett (David), Ryan (Amy), Derek, and Blake (Jamie).

She also leaves her grandchildren — Keaton, Natalie, Isabella, Hennessy, and Madeline — and her great-grandchildren, Ariel and Gianna. She’s remembered, too, by her sisters, Debbie, Carol, and Kathy; her stepdaughters, Chrissy and Lacy; and a wide circle of nieces, nephews, and friends.

In passing she was reunited with her parents, Jean and Oliver, and her brothers, Douglas and Michael.

She died on October 28, 2025. What she left behind is harder to measure than dates — a family that knows how to show up for one another, a neighborhood of fed cats and rescued dogs, and a long line of people who felt, in her company, completely cared for.

A memorial service was held on November 1, 2025, at Elliott Mortuary Chapel in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Life Timeline

  1. 1956Born on October 4 in Salina, Kansas
  2. Made her lifelong home in Hutchinson, Kansas
  3. ~1973Welcomed her daughter, Anissa
  4. 1976Welcomed her son Garrett
  5. 1980Welcomed her son Ryan
  6. 1987Welcomed her son Derek
  7. 1989Welcomed her son Blake
  8. Cared for others as a CNA, then in in-home senior care
  9. 2025Passed away on October 28

Words to Remember

Favorite sayings and quotes will live here.

Watch

Everyday moments

  • Bowling a strike · 2022

  • Dancing with Blake · c. 2023

  • Playing with the grandkids · c. 2023

The memorial service

  • Memorial service · November 1, 2025

    In This Recording

    1. 0:00Opening memorial songs
    2. 10:00Welcome and scripture readings
    3. 20:00Rebecca's life story and family tributes
    4. 40:00Personal memories from family and friends
    5. 1:00:00Closing reflections, prayer, and final songs

Voices & Audio

Recordings of her voice and favorite songs will live here.

Memories

Stories and memories from family and friends will appear here.

Messages

Recipes & Traditions

Family recipes and traditions — like her famous meatloaf — will be kept here.

In Her Memory

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to:

Leave a Memory

A guestbook where friends and family can add their own memories and photos. (Planned — not open for submissions yet.)