Elizabeth W Raney

After 94 years of self-sacrificing service to all with whom she came into contact, she has finally taken her rest. “Ibby" to her husband and friends, she was “Mimi” to her 3 children: John Montgomery Raney (who preceded her in death), Linda Fleming Randolph (spouse-Leonard M. Randolph, Jr., M.D.) and Margaret Chase Bell (spouse-Donald Bell). Mimi was additionally blessed with 10 grand children (Judd, Chad, Holly, Nate, Chris, Abby, Kate, Donny, Becky and Brion), as well as 14 great grand children.

Born in Evanston, IL on March 23, 1921, and having been a direct descendent of Samuel Chase - a signer of the Declaration of Independence, she was destined to make her mark in this world. Early in her life, she learned to travel well as she followed her father, Fred L. Warner, and mother, Helen Chase Warner, as they pursued their business interests across the country on behalf of The Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Company - a maker of those glass telephone pole wire insulators: collectors’ items now. Leaving Illinois, she lived in Atlanta, GA until she completed 3rd grade, finally landing in Wyoming, a beautiful and quaint Cincinnati, Ohio neighborhood, as she began 4th grade. Elizabeth graduated from Wyoming High School where she had established herself as a socially adept and artistic young lady. These were to be among her defining characteristics during her long and productive life: an altruistic community social and philanthropic person of note. Ibby’s adventure continued as she attended Bradford Junior College in Boston, MA; she followed Bradford by matriculating to the University of Cincinnati where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Fine Arts. Her painting and interior design talents have lent pleasure to family and friends alike. While at UC, she pledged Kappa Alpha Theta, which was the first Greek-lettered fraternity for women in the United States. Indeed, the term “sorority” had not yet been coined.

A new chapter in her life was opened when she met Jack, ultimately her partner for life. Ibby, totally in character, was volunteering at the local USO during WWII, serving hot cocoa and coffee to the troops who were home on furlough. A handsome young Army Air Force officer and pilot … Jack … challenged her to a ping pong game. Those table tennis matches turned into many dates with Jack flying back and forth between Florida, where he was stationed, and Ohio until he finally popped the question. Jack and Ibby were married on November 4, 1944 at Eglin Field in Florida. He couldn’t manage to get the time off to return to Cincinnati where the wedding was originally planned to take place. Their “game of ping pong” was to last for 70 years! Now, once again, Elizabeth became a traveler as she and Jack pursued their Air Force career. Those travels continued until 1954 when Jack left the Air Force to try his hand in the private sector, landing a job as an engineer with Sylvania Electronics in Buffalo, NY. After being transferred to Ohio and setting up residence in the Clifton, Yellow Springs and Xenia areas, they retired from Sylvania and Jack opened his own company. While in Ohio, Ibby and Jack made many trips to Florida for their family vacations. Ibby came to love Florida, and they ultimately decided to sink their roots in Stuart, FL, where they resided for 40 years.

After having occupied several homes in and around Stuart, Ibby set her heart on designing and acting as contractor for the home that still stands on St Lucie Boulevard. Always active in her communities, Elizabeth was a member of several Garden Clubs in Buffalo, NY; Xenia, OH; and the Hibiscus Club in Stuart, FL. An ardent reader, She also joined a number of Literary Clubs, to include the Literary Club of Xenia, OH - the same club that some years earlier claimed as a member Helen Hooven Santmyer - author of “… And Ladies of the Club” and “Ohio Town”. Ibby’s long list of civic engagement also includes being a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and she was a national co-founder of the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI); locally, Elizabeth opened a consignment shop in support of NAMI. In Stuart, she had long enjoyed membership in the Treasure Coast Questers, Cross Roads Yacht Club and the Panhellenic Council. Ibby opened the popular Village Patch, a gift shop on Old Dixie Highway. At one time, she and Jack owned and operated the hotel that is now Waterside Place, and since first moving to Stuart, she and Jack were committed participants in the efforts to re-develop and restore the historical Golden Gate community. Elizabeth established a personal legacy through an unwavering habit of placing others before herself, and her life made a difference in so many other lives.

Visitation and a Catholic Mass will be held at St Joseph Catholic Church (1200 East 10th Street; Stuart, Florida 34996) at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 14, 2015, followed immediately by interment at Fernhill Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum (1501 Kanner Highway; Stuart, Florida 34994). There will be a Celebration of Ibby’s life at Aycock Funeral Home (505 South Federal Highway; Stuart, Florida 34994) at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be given to the National Association for Mental Illness (NAMI), Martin County: P.O. Box 1082; Stuart, Florida 34995.