Raymond Andrew Rawley, 84, passed away at The Sussman House on the Pen Bay Campus in Rockport on July 3. Ray was born on May 8, 1932 in Camden to Alfred and Francis (Berry) Rawley.
Ray grew up in St. George and the midcoast area. He attended and graduated from the Newport Jubilee Bible College and went on to build a church in Camden that he pastored for a few years.
In 1957 he met the love of his life and married Viola May Noyes. This past June 1st they celebrated 59 years together.
Throughout his years, he worked at Pinkham’s Garage, cut wood, dug clams, worked on cars, was the floor foreman at the Button Factory and in 1969 became business partners with Eddie Noyes and formed Noyes/Rawley Body Shop. He retired in 2002.
He loved country music and in 1979 formed the family band, “The Country Wranglers” with his wife Viola, brother David and sister-in-law Marie, son Tim and his wife Lynn and son Tom and a great pianist, Retha Dutton. Over the next five years they traveled throughout the State of Maine as well as New England. They were members of the Downeast Country Music Association and received many awards at their annual award shows. The best part was getting to meet so many wonderful fans which they kept in touch with right up until the present.
After being on the road playing, Ray still didn’t get enough, so he started having Country Sundays in his barn once a month. Folks would come from as far away as East Wilton, Farmington and Northport and of course throughout the midcoast area. Many musicians would stop by to play on any given Sunday. Regulars such as Fred Thompson, Larry Griffin and Bing Crosby would always be accompanied by guitar players, fiddlers and drummers. A large group would come just to listen to the old time country favorites.
That led to him joining up with the Fellowship of Campers who would gather at many different campgrounds throughout the state. The highlight of camping was gathering around the campfire on Saturday night to sing and play those old country songs.
He also sang a few times with the “Hosanna,” a gospel group in which Tim, Tom and Lynn were members. In 2006, Ray along with Viola rededicated their lives to God and became members of the Waldoboro Word of Life Church.
Ray was predeceased by his parents, Alfred and Francis Rawley; brother, Ivan Rawley; sister-in-law, Sharon Rawley; brother-in-law, Richard Ralph; niece, Beverly; half-brother, Alfred Rawley; and half-sister, Ginny Coffin.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Viola; sons, Timothy Rawley and wife Lynn of Washington, Thomas Rawley and wife Barbara, and Daniel Rawley and wife Alicia of Waldoboro; grandsons, Kevin Rawley and friend Brianna, and Jacob Rawley of Waldoboro; granddaughters, Michelle Rawley and partner Charles Salas of Albuquerque, N.M., Karen Bowman and husband Tony of Waldoboro, Amy Rife and husband James of Jefferson, and Amanda Diaz and husband Nate of Waldoboro; great-grandchildren, Miles, Lex, Carver, Eva, Samantha, Levi, Charlie, and Thomas Felix; sisters, Florence Ralph of Warren, Dot Means and husband Charlie of Winslow; brothers, Richard and wife Connie, and David and wife Marie of Waldoboro; and many nieces and nephews, close friend Arthur Simmons and special pet “Max” the dog!
A celebration of his life on will be held at 1 p.m., Sat., July 9 at The Church of the Nazarene, 3008 Washington Rd. (Rt. 220), North Waldoboro.
To extend online condolences, light a candle in Ray’s memory, or to share a story or picture, please visit his Book of Memories at www.hallfuneralhomes.com.
Hall’s of Waldoboro has care of the arrangements.
