Eva Elizabeth (Sally) Burroughs Raley, 91, died March 11, 2009 at her home in Mechanicsville.

She was born October 15, 1917, to Edward Ray and Esther Hancock Burroughs on the family farm in Mechanicsville, MD.

She attended St. Mary's County Public Schools and graduated from the University of Maryland magna cum laude in 1940 with a degree in education.

Ms. Raley's teaching career spanned almost 40 years. In 1940, she began teaching Home Economics at Margaret Brent High School, her alma mater. Later, after her marriage to Jackson Raley in 1942 and the birth of her seven children, she returned to Margaret Brent in 1958 to teach Physical Education and Home Economics, and began her career in guidance counseling. She also coached winning softball and basketball teams, helped with theatrical productions, May Day celebrations, awards banquets, and fund raising activities. She also worked as a counselor at both Chopticon High School and Margaret Brent Middle School before retiring in 1979.

Upon her retirement, Ms. Raley devoted her time, talent, and energy in volunteering for the St. Mary's County Mental Health and Alcohol Advisory Committee, Marcy House, the Retired Teachers' Association, Delta Kappa Gamma, and All Faith Episcopal Church. She enjoyed current events, reading, shopping, sewing, cooking, gardening, and spending time with family and friends.

Ms. Raley was predeceased by her parents, her former husband, Jackson Raley, and her siblings: George, Louise, Warren, and Dorothy Ruth Burroughs, Lillian Sargent and Martha Dyson. Her surviving siblings are: Virginia Miller, Aurora, Ohio; Kenneth Burroughs, Mechanicsville; Janet Rowland, Leonardtown; and Mary Emily Wrabley, Charlotte Hall.

She is also survived by her seven loving children: John Jackson Raley, Jr., and his wife, Denise, Valley Lee; Charles Raley; Ray Raley and his wife, Kathleen, Mechanicsville; Esther Redman and her husband, Thomas, Annapolis; Elizabeth (Betsy) Norris and her companion, James Marshall, Annapolis; Mary Irene (Mollie) Raley, Dover, DE; and Jackwelyn King and her husband, Steven, North East, MD. Her eight grandchildren: Carey Norris Donnelly, Jason and Andrew Redman, Ryan Raley, Leanne Raley, Sarah Raley Dale, David Raley, and Thomas King and her six great grandchildren: Joshua, Ian, and Caroline Redman, Lucas and Zachery Donnelly, and Michaela Gromen were the sunshine of her life.

Friends may call on Fri., Mar. 20 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home in Charlotte Hall, MD. A funeral service will be held Sat., Mar. 21 at 11:00 a.m. at All Faith Episcopal Church, Charlotte Hall, MD.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O.Box 37 Mechanicsville, MD 20659, the Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad, Flora Corner Rd., Mechanicsville, MD 20659, or All Faith Episcopal Church P.O. Box 24, Charlotte Hall, MD 20622.

Arrangements provided by Brinsfield-Echols Funeral Home.