Rachel Leigh Pruett Ackworth, Iowa Rachel Leigh Pruett, formerly of Columbia, Missouri, was born May 15, 1996 in St. Louis, Missouri to Ronald and Janice Pruett (nee. Mangiameli), and entered into rest August 18, 2012 in Rolla, Missouri following a farm accident, at the age of 16. Rachel lived in Columbia Missouri for more than 10 years. If you were to ask her where home was, depending on her mood, she might just tell you it was Columbia. She started so much of what made her special there; of course this included her academics and sports. Gymnastics was her favorite and it really helped that Mizzou had a great gymnastics team. She never met a stranger and grew to have an untold amount of friends from all different ages. Her love for Columbia and Mizzou never faltered and she planned on going there for her higher education even though she wasn't positive about her future career. Her dad made sure she was aware of Engineering but she was really leaning towards becoming a Math or Science Teacher. She still has many friends there and was planning on staying with one during her college years. Rachel then moved to Brownwood Texas. Her winning personality even won the Texan's hearts and I believe that some of them even considered her a Texan. This is amazing because "if you're not born in Texas, you'll never be a Texan". She quickly got into the Tramp and Tumbling side of the gymnastics program. It was also a time for water sports. She loved tubing, skiing and even learned to slalom. And if you checked her contact list you would see she still texts several friends down there. January of 2009, she came to her most recent home, Indianola, Iowa. And, as she did wherever we went, she made friends. She loved going to Indianola High School. She had befriended so many regardless if they were upper or lower classmen, the in or the out group, and even teachers. She did love her Math and Sciencethe humanities, not so much. She probably took after her father in that respect! She loved sports, all sports, even the ones she couldn't "officially" play (football)! She wanted to be the first female quarterback, and boy could she pass the football. She loved music throughout her life. Not just when she played an instrument or sung in choir just music. The I-Pod seemed to have been designed specifically for her. Just ask anyone; the neighbors and golfers across the road who heard her singing while she mowed the lawn, the customers and employees in Hy-Vee who heard her while she sang at the register (she got that from her mom!) and anyone driving alongside her on the road. And there wasn't music without dance! She loved to dance and took every opportunity to do so. She was her father's dancing partner. He just let the rest of you take turns every once in awhile. The overpowering message here is that Rachel LOVED LIFE, FRIENDS, and DOING. The thing the family is asking you do is that in those moments, in the future, when you think of Rachel for whatever reason (something she liked, something you're doing she would enjoy, some smile that reminds you of her) that you not keep it to yourself. Talk about it, talk about her, and don't let her memory fade. But do it with a smile and a cheerful heart. After all, that is what she is about. Survivors include her parents Ronald and Janice Pruett of Ackworth; brother, Shane Pruett of Ackworth; grandparents, John and Barbara Mangiameli of Ackworth and William "Jack" and Joyce Pruett of Rolla, Missouri; families of Roger Pruett, Debbie O'Shea and John DiBari along with many extended family and friends. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Rachel Pruett will be held 7 p .m. Saturday, August 25, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Indianola. The family will gather one hour prior to services at the church. Rachel's parents encourage everyone to bring memories and stories to share at the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the future Rachel Leigh Pruett Scholarship Fund.