William Ross Raley, 95, of Ridge, MD, passed peacefully on June 28, 2012, at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Born January 7, 1917, in Dameron, MD, he was the son of the late William Calvert Raley and Nettie Marie Raley.

Ross married the late Mary Frances Hilton on June 30, 1945 at St. Michael's Church in Ridge, MD. They celebrated 58 years of marriage prior to her death on July 15, 2003.

He lived his entire life in St. Mary's County with a tour of duty (4 years) in the Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. He received several medals, which included the American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal, one service stripe, five overseas service bars, and a Good Conduct Medal. Upon his return home, he worked at Southern Maryland Oil Company until he purchased a grocery store and bar in 1948 which became known as Raley's Store and later as Raley's Town and Country Market. He provided years of service to the people of the First District.

He and his family made the store a gathering place for the community and tried to provide quality service. His work ethic served as a role model for his family and others. After his son and his nephew, Dan Raley took over the store in 1979, you could always find Ross in the meat department cutting meat and making his "secret" sausage recipe which was shipped all over the country. He took great delight in the fact that Raley's stuffed ham appeared on a segment of the Food Network and he was a TV star for the day. He worked in the meat department until the age of 91.

He then spent his days mowing the grass and enjoying time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren on his beautiful creekside. He loved a good game of pitch and especially loved catching your jack and looked forward to trips to play the slot machines. Ross was a life-long parishioner of St. Michael's Church, a member of the American Legion Post 255 in Ridge, and served on the Board of Directors for the Maryland National Bank (1981-1987).

Ross is survived by his son, Ray Raley (Mary) of Ridge, MD; four grandchildren, Jennifer Hollingsworth (Brian), Amy Oest (Steve), Ben Raley and Jason Raley; five great-granchildren, Allison, John and Will Hollingsworth, and Nathan and Nicholas Ross Oest; his sister, Audrey Marie Norton of Ridge, MD, and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind with deep gratitude his loving caregivers of many years, Carolyn Curtis, Salinda Carroll and Jean Cooper-Harmon.

In addition to his parents and wife, he is also preceded in death by siblings, Marguerite Stone, Dorothy Mae Raley, Joseph Francis Raley and Robert Walter Raley.

Family will receive friends for Ross' Life Celebration on Sunday, July 1, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., with prayers recited at 7:00 p.m. by the Reverend Lee Fangmeyer, at St. Michael's Catholic Church, 16555 Three Notch Road, Ridge, MD 20680. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Reverend Lee Fangmeyer on Monday, July 2, 2012 at 10 a.m. at the St. Michael's Catholic Church at 10:00 a.m. Interment will immediately follow in the church cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Jason Raley, Dan Raley, Keith Raley, Bruce Raley, Brian Hollingsworth and Steve Oest.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.