Marie (Raley) Burch, age 88, of Hollywood, MD passed away peacefully September 16, 2014 at her home surrounded by her family. Born June 9, 1926, Marie was the oldest daughter of the late Lewis W. & Vernia S. Banks of Burnsville, NC.

After graduation from high school in 1944, she graduated from Johnson City Business College in 1946 and received credits from other Universities in Business Management thru 1948. She started her career working for ET&WNC Transportation & Railroad Co. in East Tennessee. From Tennessee, she moved on to Washington, DC with her cousin (June) in 1948, where she worked for the General Services Administration (GSA) in Downtown DC.

While working for GSA, she met and later married her 1st husband, Ralph "Reds" Raley of Callaway, MD in October 1950. After a long battle with cancer, Ralph later passed away in 1978.

After Ralph's passing, Marie moved to Northern Virginia and worked at NAVAIR in Crystal City, VA. She worked with McDonnell aircraft and a team of British Engineers on the Submarine Harpoon Missile Project for several years, after which she returned to Southern MD to work at the Naval Air Station at Pax River. She retired from gov't service in 1986 after 27 years of service.

In 1983, Marie married the late F. Elliott Burch, Sr. and the two built a beautiful home in Hollywood together were she has resided.

Marie lived a very active church life assisting in the startup of Lexington Park Baptist Church and later a member of Leonardtown Baptist Church. She kept in touch with a circle of friends thru her Tuesday morning bible studies, NARFE, the XYZer's and other Christian activities.

She had many talents; such as crafts, interior decorating, sewing, cooking and the outdoors; such as gardening and landscaping and always said there was something about the outdoors and working in the good earth that "draws us closer to our God".

In addition to her parents and husbands, Marie is preceded in death by her daughter, Sandra Raley-Tippett (Joe). She leaves behind her son, Garry Raley Sr. (Jeanne) of Callaway, MD, four grandchildren; Garry Raley Jr. (Elizabeth), Travis Raley (Lisa), Jennifer Faunce (Al) and Kelly Tayman and 7 great grandchildren. Family includes sister, Rheba Woody (Emerson) of Burnsville, NC; brother, Ray Banks of Chuckey, TN; and two stepsons, Sonny Burch (Peaches) and Buddy Burch (Jean) and their families.

Family will receive friends for Marie's Life Celebration on Sunday, September 21, 2014 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. with prayers recited at 4:00 p.m. at Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, September 22, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Leonardtown Baptist Church, 23520 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Interment will follow in Queen of Peace Cemetery, 38888 Dr. Johnson Road, Mechanicsville, MD 20659.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A., Leonardtown, MD.