Margaret Alice Baker Raley, 66, of Bonita Springs, Fla., formerly of Bellefontaine, Ohio, passed away Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022. She was born May 31, 1956, in Bellefontaine, a daughter of the late Frederick Atwell and Caroline Alice Hursh Baker.
She also was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick Raley of Florida; Uncle Clayton C. Hursh Jr. and Aunt Mary Jane (Roof) Hursh, and Cousin Charles C. Hursh of Ohio; Aunt Ella Jo-Ann (Baker) and Uncle Robert H. Frisch Jr. of Florida.
Margaret is survived by her son, Gregory Raley of Bonita Springs, Fla., a brother, Frederick C. (Susan) Baker, niece Alicia Marie Baker, nephew Alexander (Kaitlin) Baker, and great-nephew Isaac Clayton Baker, all of North Carolina; and nephew Joseph Clayton (Nanette) Baker of Newberry, South Carolina; cousins Cheryl (Hursh) Mitchell and Christopher A. Hursh of Ohio; second cousins Robert E. Mitchell, Christina (Mitchell) Dodds, Brooks Hursh, Jordan Hursh, LilyAna Hursh and Elizabeth Hursh; cousins Carol E. Frisch, Eva D. (Wagner) Frisch and Robert H. Frisch III; and second cousins Lauren Wagner, Bridgett Wagner, Elizabeth Frisch and Sarah Frisch.
Margaret graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1974. Throughout high school, she was a charter member of the “Order of the Rainbow Girls.” Also, she would recount tales from her first job working at the Chicken Ranch restaurant.
After high school, Margaret married Patrick Raley on April 15, 1977, and worked at Citizens Federal Savings and Loan before moving to Florida.
After moving to Florida, Margaret went to nursing school and became an LPN and worked for several doctors, hospitals and nursing homes. She was currently working at “Vi Bentley Village” in Naples, Fla., at the time of her death. Her patients adored her and she truly enjoyed her work, returning the love to them. Margaret was a long-standing member of the Gulf Shore Church and loved by her congregation.
Margaret was a very loving and caring person and would do anything to help out family and friends. She was an avid animal lover and had many pets, including dogs, cats, birds and other animals over the years. Because of her love of cats, Margaret volunteered with Community Cats of Bonita Springs, Fla., where she helped feed the area’s feral cat colonies on a weekly basis.
She was also fond (as was her mother Caroline) of bargain hunting would enjoy visiting thrift stores or yard sales. Although miles separated the families, weekly phone calls were kept important, just to hear voices if nothing else needed conveyed.
Per Margaret’s wishes, she is being cremated and there are no services planned.