Sylvia Paris Felker Rackley

Sylvia Paris Felker Rackley, 85, of Hamilton, passed away at 10:30 PM, Saturday, November 8, 2025.

Sylvia was born September 3, 1940, to Sidney and Daime (Harmon) Felker of Lavalle, Missouri. She was the youngest of 9 children. She attended school in Parma, Missouri.

Down south, Sylvia and her family were of the Baptist faith and had a quaint church at the end of their dirt road they loved to walk to. She became of Methodist faith after moving to Warsaw, Illinois.

Sylvia moved with her family from Berkley, Missouri to Warsaw, Illinois, in 1964, to help her husband at the time, Jim Rackley, start DE Barton Company, along with two other families, Don Barton family and Dewey Clardy family, who made the move with them. The plant later became J.B. Automatic. Sylvia was a contributing factor to its success.

When Sylvia first moved to Warsaw with her family, she helped with the ambulance and volunteered on many community projects. She became a Shaklee distributor which contributed to her good health. She was an excellent cook and prepared many meals at family cookouts. She was known for her homemade chocolate fudge.

Sylvia also worked at Shaeffer Pen and met many friends along the way. She worked at JC Pennys and Cardella’s for many years until she retired. She wasn’t afraid of hard work and worked most of her life.

She is survived by her two daughters, Tamra (Brad) Rackley Greenslaugh and Leisa (Jeff) Rackley Robison; grandchildren, Erin (Danny) Greenslaugh Walton, Tyler (Heather) Greenslaugh, Tiffany (Bryan) Nelson Robison, Jeffrey (Rachel) Robison and Joshua Robison; great grandchildren, Bryce, Blake, Logan, Garner, Bodhi, Casey, Cameron, Everett “Rhett” and Everly; many nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Linda Felker and Shirley Felker; and brother-in-law, James (Dottie) Rackley.

She was preceded in death by her siblings, AD, Harold, Bryan, Ralph, Larry, Arlene Stuckey, Evelyn and Verna; brother-in-law, Jerry Rackley; and ex-husband, Jim Rackley.

Private services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Warsaw Fire Department and/or the Hamilton Fire Department or a local food bank of your choice. Printy Funeral Home of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.