Mae Dean Raney October 30, 1925 – February 11, 2019 Share this obituary Send Flowers Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Mae Dean Raney, 93, of Shawnee, passed away in the early hours of February 11, 2019 surrounded by loved ones. Her last moments were quiet and she had a peaceful transition. She was born Mae Dean Lawson on October 30, 1925 in Marshall, Arkansas to Andrew Nicklas and Dulcina Catherine (Cassel) Lawson.
She was the youngest of 8 children and the family eventually moved to and settled in Gerty, Oklahoma. Mae Dean was always a firecracker—her spark and spunk will follow her into the light. Her outgoing spirit and love will also live on through the imprints she left on all those she raised.
A charming, outgoing, and independent woman, Mae Dean could light up a room with her charismatic presence. She loved laughter, being around people, and fiercely protecting her loved ones. Always moved by a lightness, a spirit of forgiveness, and an impressive tendency to do as she wished.
“We had a good life,” she’d often say, “…we always did just what we wanted”. She met a tall and handsome, soft-spoken man—Clarence Raney—and, in 1945, the two became engaged and travelled to Oklahoma City to marry. Making it only as far as Shawnee, however, they decided they couldn’t wait.
Doing just what they wanted, Mae Dean and Clarence stopped and were married that day at the Shawnee Courthouse on February 12, 1945. They remained married for 64 years until Clarence’s death in 2010. Over those decades they took care of one another and of those they loved, valuing the few things in life that matter like love, laughter, and forgiveness.
Over the years, Mae Dean worked as a riveter, a secretary, a retail manager and a stay at home mother who could squeeze a delicious and healthy meal for 10 out of a single turnip (including pie with a perfect crust). Mae Dean and Clarence raised three children: Earl, Robin, and Laurel, and kept open doors to those in need or want. On account of Clarence’s service in the Air Force as well as their mutual curiosity and love of excitement, they experienced the vibrancy of Oklahoma City in the 1940s, luaus and dance contests of Hawaii in the 1950s, and the untouched, rural Montana of the 1970s.
Their years in Montana were special ones during which they built a log cabin from the ground up and, in many ways, lived off the land in the solitude of beautiful country. But they felt most at home in Shawnee. For many years after returning to Oklahoma, they would spend summers in Montana picking huckleberries, hiking, and enjoying long drives to explore and observe the beauty of nature.
Mae Dean is preceded in death by her parents, her 7 siblings, and her husband. Mae Dean is survived by her three children: Laurel Hiller of Pennsylvania; Robin Raney Fackler of Washington, and Earl Raney of Hawaii; six grandchildren: Jeremy Raney, Nathan Raney, Nichole Scott, Joshua Taron, Mariah Goblet, and Kitty Taron. She is also survived by 13 great-grandchildren and countless other loved and loving people.
To our mother, grandmother, and friend—we will miss you and forever carry you in our hearts. Graveside funeral services are set for 1:00 Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019 at Gerty Cemetery in Gerty with Rev.
Mike McCauley officiating. Services under the direction of Fisher Funeral Home in Holdenville.
If you found any mistakes, or you would like to add/remove to this obituary, please contact us by email: info@obituary.memorial. We never ask money for this.
