Merion was born in Lebanon, Oklahoma on May 2, 1929 to Frank and Clara Cornelison. She graduated from Madill High School in Madill, Oklahoma. She married Thomas Gilbert “Bud” Raley on July 3, 1948, in Gainesville, Texas; they were married for 59 years when Bud passed away. She came to Odessa in 1957 from Paola, OK.
She worked in the school cafeteria and then as a school bus driver for Ector County ISD for twenty years. Merion enjoyed her family, gardening, reading, playing cards, and holidays. She was also actively involved in her church.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Raley; her parents, Frank and Clara Cornelison; her brothers, Cecil Cornelison, Sonny Cornelison, and Jerome Cornelison; her sisters, Marie Stowers, Pansy King, Geneva Kilgo, and Daisy Hallmark.
She is survived by sons Gilbert Don Raley of Burleson, TX and Steven Wayne Raley of Spring, TX; daughters Donna Jean Morgan of Odessa, TX, Judy Ann Raley of Kingston, OK, and Diana Lee Curry of Odessa, TX; 11 grandchildren; 20 great- grandchildren; 9 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m., Monday, April 29, 2024, at Northside Baptist Church with Rev. Clydel Chapman officiating. Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at the Oakland Cemetery in Oakland, OK with Rev. David Hill officiating.
Services entrusted to Hubbard-Kelly Funeral Home.
