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Rae Eley
Norma Rae McPherson Eley, 93, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Rae was born on December 26, 1930, in Camden County, NC. She was the daughter of Alida McPherson Burguess and Winfred McPherson, and the oldest of two sisters. Portia Lee Burgess and Phyllis Lane. Her middle sister Portia Lee passed away the day before Rae, on Saturday, September 14, 2024. In addition to her parents and sister, she was predeceased by her husband Walter Eley and stepfather Norman Burgess.
Rae had two children during her first marriage, Candis and Murray. When she and her family lived in Roanoke, Rapids, NC, she worked as the Registrar at Halifax Community College. In 1976 Rae moved to the Outer Banks. Her first job was working as a manager at a motel. She was later hired as a sales assistant at the Armada hotel, where she worked her way up to Director of Sales and Marketing and General Manager.
A trailblazer and strong advocate for women’s rights and education, she chartered the Virginia Dare Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPWC) on the Outer Banks in 1978. The aim of the organization is to advocate for women’s issues and equal rights for women. The club organized local programming to help women improve themselves academically and professionally. In 2020, Rae was recognized by the College of The Albemarle (COA) Foundation, with an endowed scholarship for over 40 years of service to the BPWC. The “Rae Eley Endowed Scholarship” provides tuition assistance for a female COA student, aged 25 or older, who resides in Dare, Currituck, Tyrrell, Hyde, Camden or Pasquotank County.
In 1985 Rae married the Love of her life, Walter Eley. During their 24 years of marriage, they enjoyed traveling, hosting parties and working together on Walt’s business ventures. They were members of the United Methodist Church in Kitty Hawk and enjoyed membership at Duck Woods Country Club. Rae loved Walt very much and felt that their time together was much too short.
Rae served on the board of the Ocracoke Fishing Tournament and was a member of the women’s fishing team, the Fish Lips of Nags Head. Rae loved to dance! In the early 90’s, with no formal training in Tap dance, she joined the Wright Tappers. With her knack for creativity and flair, she was instrumental in designing many of the costumes for the award-winning dance team. During her tenure and travel with the Wright Tappers, they won over 15 Gold medals for first place at the Senior dance competitions. They would also perform at local businesses and senior centers. She danced with the Wright Tappers until she was 89 years old.
Rae spent her final days in her element; dancing and participating in activities during Vegas week, as a resident of Spring Arbor assisted living facility. The loss of her presence will be felt most by those left to mourn her absence; sister, Phyllis Lane of Shiloh, NC; daughter, Candis and husband Steve George of Nags Head; son, Murray and wife Bernetta Castellow of Charlotte, NC; bonus daughter, Debby Castellow of Cleveland, TN; three grandchildren, Owen Heath (wife Tanya), Charles Castellow (wife Donica), and Andrew Castellow (wife Lauren); seven great grandchildren, RaeLeigh Castellow, Emme Castellow, Locleigh Castellow, Audie Castellow, Atticus Castellow, Mia Heath and Nico Heath; a host of extended family and dear friends.
A memorial Service will be held at the United Methodist Church in Kitty Hawk on Saturday, October 19 at 2:00 pm followed by a Celebration of Life at Duck Woods Country Club at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial gifts be made to the Rae Eley Memorial Scholarship through the College of The Albemarle Foundation. Contributions can be made online at http://www.albemarle.edu/foundation or by mail to College of The Albemarle Foundation, PO Box 2327, Elizabeth City, NC 27906. *If contributing online, please select the Make a Gift tab to default to the General Fund. Designate the name of the scholarship (Rae Eley Memorial Scholarship) in the comments section.
Gallop Funeral Services Inc. is entrusted with arrangements. Please leave a message of comfort at gallopfuneralservices.com.
Condolences
Rae was a wonderful, fun-loving, awesome soul that will forever be missed!
Rae, I loved you dearly & I will miss you forever 😎💋
Was just sent this notification so sorry we loved her so much she loved the Roger and we all had so much fun back when the woman's club and then the dancers she will be sorley missed by a lot of people My prayers go up for her and for all of her family
So sorry to hear of your loss. Praying that God will give you comfort, peace and the remembrance of many happy times you had together. 🙏🏼 Doug and Martha Hale
Murray, I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother and your aunt. God gives his hardest battles to His strongest soldiers, but he will never give you more than you can bear. I pray for your strength during this difficult time. I love you, Murray and Bee's entire family grieves with you. Arva~~
My heartfelt condolences to Murray & Bernetta Castellow and the entire family. 🙏🏾❤️🩹
She was such a special lady! So sorry for your loss! Thoughts an prayers to you all!
oh Rae, the sunshine you brought into my life will shine forever. i love you
My prayers are with the family, especially Candi, Murray and Phyl. She was an incomparable person and everyone who knew her enjoyed her. We will definitely miss her. I loved her and admired her style. Love, Jean.
Candis and family, so sorry for your loss. Rae was a beautiful, joyful lady and I know you will miss her dearly. I loved her smile. Our deepest sympathy and love
What a truly special lady who will be greatly missed. Please except Our deepest condolences. 🙏
Candi and Murray, I am so glad God let our paths cross. We made some memories I will never forget. She was the person who brought me out of my shell. Love you guys, Keep in touch with us!
Condolences to Murray and to all the family and love ones. Although I did not personally know your Mom/love one I remember Bernetta speaking of her and the dance group she loved. I was very impressed with her vitality and stamina. May your cherished memories of your loved one be of comfort to you. Peace and Love ❤️
I'm so sorry.. Ray you were a great lady.. I will remember you for ever🙏 Please accept my condolences 🙏
We will miss her smiling face. She was so welcoming when we moved to Bay Dr.and it was our good fortune to call her friend.
Candis and family please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Rae had such an infectious smile and enjoyed life to its fullest. We were blessed to have met her and Walt at the old Friscos cocktail lounge. Tight lines 🎣 Ms Fish Lips 👄 from the Raisin Rods Fishing Team
Sending my sincere condolences to you and your family. Love and friendship, Patty Little-RRHS classmate
So very sorry for your losses Candi and Steve, Murray and Bee and family. Rae was a "Rae" of sunshine where ever she went! I was blessed to know her!
Prayers to her family. Rae (and Walter) helped me financially 30 years ago after my parents passed. I will never forget the kindness and support.
A beautiful and gracious lady who opened her home on Bay Drive to many. She and Walt were a team and knew how to make you feel at home. A life well lived. Blessings.
Candis, I’m a member of the lunch group of ladies that go to lunch each month. Thats how I met Rae. She has been at my home many times for parties. We live on Bay Dr. She was such a bright light always for our group of ladies. We all loved her so much and she will be missed and remembered forever. ♥️ May she rest in peace and God give you the strength to heal from your loss. 😇🙏
Wishing you peace and comfort.
I was sad to hear of Rae’s passing. I always had great respect for her as an accomplished, Intelligent, adventurous and full of life person. I remember the time I and a middle-aged friend of mine visited her at the beach. After a night of fun, laughter, dancing and drinks at a local club, my friend turned to Rae and said: “ I want to be like you when I grow up.”
May sincere condolences to you and your family, Murray. Keep ong you all in prayer.🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️
One of my special best friends. We fished together on the Fish Lips, she would ride with me, someone once asked how do you ride with her? she said, I just put on my parachute. She was a hoot, we had many great traveling trips with our hubbies. Got to visit her last spring, still Rae, wings had still not been clipped. Will miss her, Linda McGovern
Candy, Thinking of you. I’m so sorry for your loss. Verna Clark
Rae certainly was an apt name! She was such a ray of sunshine!
My deepest condolences to your family during this time. Rae was such a special person, and I feel blessed to have shared a true and meaningful friendship with her during our time together at Spring Arbor. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Rae’s vibrancy touched the lives of so many in the very best way. I am most grateful that I was given the opportunity to know her through participation with the “Lunch Bunch.” Thinking of all who “loved her” with my sincerest sympathies and prayers.
Rae was a wonderful, fun-loving, awesome soul that will forever be missed!
Rae, I loved you dearly & I will miss you forever 😎💋
Was just sent this notification so sorry we loved her so much she loved the Roger and we all had so much fun back when the woman’s club and then the dancers she will be sorley missed by a lot of people My prayers go up for her and for all of her family
So sorry to hear of your loss. Praying that God will give you comfort, peace and the remembrance of many happy times you had together. 🙏🏼 Doug and Martha Hale
Murray,
I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother and your aunt. God gives his hardest battles to His strongest soldiers, but he will never give you more than you can bear. I pray for your strength during this difficult time. I love you, Murray and Bee’s entire family grieves with you. Arva~~
My heartfelt condolences to Murray & Bernetta Castellow and the entire family. 🙏🏾❤️🩹
She was such a special lady! So sorry for your loss! Thoughts an prayers to you all!
oh Rae, the sunshine you brought into my life will shine forever. i love you
My prayers are with the family, especially Candi, Murray and Phyl. She was an incomparable person and everyone who knew her enjoyed her. We will definitely miss her. I loved her and admired her style. Love, Jean.
Candis and family, so sorry for your loss. Rae was a beautiful, joyful lady and I know you will miss her dearly. I loved her smile.
Our deepest sympathy and love
What a truly special lady who will be greatly missed. Please except
Our deepest condolences. 🙏
Candi and Murray,
I am so glad God let our paths cross.
We made some memories I will never forget.
She was the person who brought me out of my shell.
Love you guys,
Keep in touch with us!
Condolences to Murray and to all the family and love ones. Although I did not personally know your Mom/love one I remember Bernetta speaking of her and the dance group she loved. I was very impressed with her vitality and stamina. May your cherished memories of your loved one be of comfort to you. Peace and Love ❤️
I’m so sorry..
Ray you were a great lady..
I will remember you for ever🙏
Please accept my condolences 🙏
We will miss her smiling face. She was so welcoming when we moved to Bay Dr.and it was our good fortune to call her friend.
Candis and family please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Rae had such an infectious smile and enjoyed life to its fullest. We were blessed to have met her and Walt at the old Friscos cocktail lounge. Tight lines 🎣 Ms Fish Lips 👄 from the Raisin Rods Fishing Team
Sending my sincere condolences to you and your family. Love and friendship, Patty Little-RRHS classmate
So very sorry for your losses Candi and Steve, Murray and Bee and family. Rae was a “Rae” of sunshine where ever she went! I was blessed to know her!
Prayers to her family. Rae (and Walter) helped me financially 30 years ago after my parents passed. I will never forget the kindness and support.
A beautiful and gracious lady who opened her home on Bay Drive to many. She and Walt were a team and knew how to make you feel at home. A life well lived. Blessings.
Candis, I’m a member of the lunch group of ladies that go to lunch each month. Thats how I met Rae. She has been at my home many times for parties. We live on Bay Dr. She was such a bright light always for our group of ladies. We all loved her so much and she will be missed and remembered forever. ♥️ May she rest in peace and God give you the strength to heal from your loss. 😇🙏
Wishing you peace and comfort.
I was sad to hear of Rae’s passing. I always had great respect for her as an accomplished, Intelligent, adventurous and full of life person. I remember the time I and a middle-aged friend of mine visited her at the beach. After a night of fun, laughter, dancing and drinks at a local club, my friend turned to Rae and said: “ I want to be like you when I grow up.”
May sincere condolences to you and your family, Murray. Keep ong you all in prayer.🙏🏽🙏🏽♥️
One of my special best friends. We fished together on the Fish Lips, she would ride with me, someone once asked how do you ride with her? she said, I just put on my parachute. She was a hoot, we had many great traveling trips with our hubbies. Got to visit her last spring, still Rae, wings had still not been clipped. Will miss her, Linda McGovern
Candy, Thinking of you. I’m so sorry for your loss. Verna Clark
Rae certainly was an apt name! She was such a ray of sunshine!
My deepest condolences to your family during this time. Rae was such a special person, and I feel blessed to have shared a true and meaningful friendship with her during our time together at Spring Arbor. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed. Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Rae’s vibrancy touched the lives of so many in the very best way. I am most grateful that I was given the opportunity to know her through participation with the “Lunch Bunch.” Thinking of all who “loved her” with my sincerest sympathies and prayers.