Wayne Raley

Wayne Parr Raley, 61, of Hopewell passed away June 9, 2011 at VCU Medical Center due to a lengthy battle with diabetes. He was born on January 22, 1950 in Hopewell. He was the son of the late Selma Parr Raley and the late Ernest Lloyd Raley, Sr. He is survived by a devoted sister, Mary Ann Rosier (Benjamin) and a brother, Ernest Lloyd Raley, Jr. (Paula). His daughter, Melissa Knowles (Judson), and three grandchildren, Marcos, Judson Lee, and Amelia, reside in Wellington, Colorado. He has many nieces and nephews. Wayne was a past employee of Allied Chemical. He enjoyed singing, songwriting, and playing the guitar. Up until twenty years ago, he enjoyed the good life. He built his own home, enjoyed his Corvette and Harley Davidson motorcycle, and loved raising horses and many other animals. Sometimes things happen in life to change the path we are on. Since that time, he chose to live the life of an outdoorsman. Many people may remember him sitting at his favorite spots, in the parking lots of the downtown Hardees and McDonalds in Hopewell, with his beloved cat, Punkin. He shared numerous stories of the people who approached him to pet his cat and ask how he was doing. We would like to thank you for caring. Wayne was always coming up with something to get a laugh. So from his hospital bed a few days ago, he recited this poem:

Just bury me on the prairie
Wrapped in an old cow hide
And by the light of the moon
Just write on my tomb
Another cowboyâ??s last ride.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, 2011 at the Hopewell chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2011 at Merchants Hope Memorial Gardens, with the Rev. Duane Guridy officiating. Condolences may be registered online at www.jtmorriss.com .