Fern Norwood Raley

July 29, 1920

March 17, 2021

Fern (Norwood) Raley, a long-time resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma, died Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Columbia, Tennessee.

Mrs. Raley celebrated her 100th birthday on July 29, 2020.  She was born in Salado, Texas, to Pearl (Cosper) and J. H. Norwood.  She graduated from Salado High School in 1937 at the age of 16.  After attending business college, she worked in Belton and San Antonio, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois.

On March 24, 1945, Fern Norwood married Coleman Raley in the Salado Methodist Church.   They had been married for 62 years when Dr. Raley died on June 17, 2007.

During World War II, Dr. Raley was a chaplain in the U. S. Navy.  They lived in several locations up and down the Atlantic coast.  Mrs. Raley accompanied her husband aboard ship to play piano for worship services that he led.  She also played piano in churches of which they were members.  

  The Raleys moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, in 1955.  She worked for eight years in the office of the College of Fine Arts at Oklahoma Baptist University.  Dr. Raley was a member of the faculty of the university.   They became active members of the First Baptist Church, Shawnee.  

Dr. and Mrs. Raley enjoyed traveling.  Their travel destinations included Europe, the Holy Land, the Orient, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, and from the east coast to the west coast of the United States

The family suggests that if you want to honor her memory, a contribution to your faith community, your library, or to medical research would be appreciated.