Decorated World War II veteran, local businessman, educator and county school official James Morris Raley, 88, of Leonardtown, MD died May 31, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospital following an extended illness.

Born January 6, 1922 in Morganza, MD, he was the youngest son of the late George L. and Martha Raley of Leonardtown.

A life-long resident of St. Mary's County, he graduated from Margaret Brent High School in Morganza, MD and later attended St. Johns College in Annapolis, MD, before being drafted into the U.S. Army in November, 1942.

His military service as a Commanding Officer of Company C 250th Engineer Combat Battalion during World War II took him to Western Europe where he helped open road connections and guided the construction of floating and later fixed bridges across rivers in Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, and Holland in support of U.S. and Allied troop movements. He received numerous awards and accommodations for his military service including the Bronze Star and completed his service as a Captain.

After the war, he returned to St. Mary's County and established the first National Guard in Leonardtown, where he served as the Commanding Officer from 1947 to 1949.

He was extremely proud of his military service and enjoyed reminiscing at length with family and friends about his Army experiences. During the war, he had maintained a daily diary of his activities and had the uncanny ability to recall the most minute details associated with his myriad military achievements. Until recent years, he could be seen marching proudly in his original World War II uniform in the annual St. Mary's County Veteran's Day parade through Leonardtown.

With his brother, Jackson, he later established Raley Construction and over the ensuing years built numerous commercial buildings and private homes throughout Leonardtown and St. Mary's County.

After his construction business, he taught skilled trades classes at what is now the James A. Forrest Career and Technology Center in Leonardtown.

He later became director of school construction for St. Mary's County Public Schools overseeing the design and construction of the Leonardtown Middle School, Margaret Brent Middle School, and Leonardtown High School, among others.

After retiring, he worked for several years as a consultant to several construction firms, helping oversee the construction of new men's dormitory facilities at St. Mary's College of Maryland and the expansion of the St. Mary's Nursing Center in Leonardtown among various other projects. In his spare time, he also enjoyed gardening.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Mary Lou (Johnson) Raley of Leonardtown, MD; three daughters, Sandra Lou Martin and her husband, Jack, of Severna Park, MD; Linda Anne Pigman and her husband, Colin, of Green Valley, AZ; and Mary Elaine Sincavage and her husband, Ed, of Pasadena, MD; and son, James M. Raley, Jr. and his wife, Joanne, of Naples, FL plus eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. He is survived by two of his sisters, Agnes Cline of Leonardtown, MD, and Doris Downs of Scottsdale, AZ.

He was preceded in death by a son, Brother Paschal (Thomas Stanley) Raley, CFX, and siblings, Joseph L. Raley, Martha Lucretia Shugars, Etoyle Sizemore, George E. Raley, Jackson Raley, and Claude Raley.

Family and friends are invited to Mr. Raley's Life Celebration on Sunday, June 6, 2010 from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. with prayers recited at 4:00 p.m. at the Brinsfield Funeral Home, 22955 Hollywood Road, Leonardtown, MD. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 10 a.m. at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leonardtown with the Rev. John Dakes officiating. Interment will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery on Fenwick St. in Leonardtown.

Pallbearers will be John Martin, III, Michael Sincavage, Steve Raley, Paul Rose, Richard Raley, and Jami Raley.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Leonardtown Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 299, Leonardtown, MD 20650 or Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650.

Arrangements by the Brinsfield Funeral Home, P.A.