Mary Elizabeth Thorne Raff

Mary Elizabeth Thorne Raff, 95, of Gallatin, TN passed away May 14, 2026. She was born on November 5, 1930. Mary was born and raised in Great Falls Montana, graduating from Great Falls High School. She met Fred on a blind date in Montana while in junior college and they were wed 9 months later.

Mary & Fred lived in various countries for Fred's job- and they welcomed their daughter Jacqueline (Jackie) Thorne on Guams Navy base on Mary’s birthday in November of 1960. After several years on Guam, they lived in Brooklyn, NY and Japan until 1967 when they moved to Orlando, where Fred opened up the Navy Exchange. Mary worked for Orange County Public schools for 25 years until 1992, and for Weight Watchers until 2019. She lived in Winter Park and attended St. Margaret Mary church.

She enjoyed working until 2019, when she moved to Tennessee to be with her family. There, she settled in a nice neighborhood meeting the most wonderful neighbors. She looked forward to returning to Florida as often as possible to enjoy her beach condo in Cape Canaveral. Her time with her granddaughters was always her most joyful, and many memories were made after her move to Tennessee with her family.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents Dennis and Anna Kandilas; sisters Agnes McNeil (Harry) and Ida Sweeney (Max) and brother Dan Kandilas (Berta); her first husband Frederick Thorne who she was married to from 1952 – 1988 until his passing; second husband Julius Raff from 1995 – 2015 until his passing.

She is survived by her daughter Jacqueline Thorne Hill (Randy); granddaughters Kayla Clark (Paul) and Jenna Hill; also many nieces and nephews.

She will be truly missed by all that knew her and her memory lives on through all of her family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, in Memory of Mary Elizabeth Thorne-Raff, a charity that Mary felt passion about.

There will be a Celebration of Life at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church on June 12, 2026 at 11 A.M. with a lunch to follow.

In honor of Mary the family requests that bright colors be worn.