George Larue Raley

On March 30, 2022, George LaRue (“Booky”) Raley, loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and avid golfer, passed away at the age of 82.

George was born on August 2, 1939, in Dothan, Alabama, to Ethel and Theo “Moon” Raley. George followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Sonny, by attending Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. At Samford, George starred in three different varsity sports: basketball (2-year letterman), baseball (3-year letterman and captain his senior year) and football (4-year letterman, where he played for the legendary Bobby Bowden). George was also a member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and was the President of the H-Club (the athletic lettermen’s club for Samford, previously known as Howard College). After obtaining his Bachelor of Applied Sciences (B.A.Sc.) degree in Physical Education, Teaching and Coaching from Samford, George coached high school football in Headland and Slocomb, Alabama before landing the head coaching position at Gaylesville High School in north Alabama. During these years, George also played semi-pro football with the Dothan Colts and the Gadsden Raiders. George relocated to Decatur, Alabama in 1964 where he worked as an Industrial Engineer for Fruehauf Corporation. George became the proud father of three sons, Brian, John and Patrick, during his years in Decatur. In 1973, George accepted a position with Blue Bird Body Company in Fort Valley, Georgia. George worked as Materials Manager and Assistant Plant Manager for Blue Bird over the next 18 years in Fort Valley and LaFayette, Georgia. George continued his career with Mohawk Industries in Dalton, Georgia, working in the Corporate Purchasing and Scheduling department from 1991 until his retirement in 2004.

Outside of work, George was extremely active. He served as a youth football coach in the Houston County Recreation Department and a youth baseball coach in the Warner Robins American Little League. George was a life-long high school basketball official, calling games in middle Georgia and north Georgia for more than 45 years. George and Kim, his beloved wife of 30 years, traveled regularly to beaches all over the southeast, as well as the Dominican Republic and Cancun. George’s biggest recreational passion, however, was golf. Over the years, George was a member of Burningtree Country Club in Decatur, Alabama, Statham’s Landings Golf Club in Warner Robins, Georgia, Battlefield Golf Club in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and Houston Lake Country Club in Perry, Georgia. At his peak, George was a 5 handicap and he regularly shot (or beat) his age in his later years. Only three months before his passing, George recorded scores of 73 and 79 in his final two rounds at Battlefield Golf Club.

Throughout his life, George was always surrounded by a large circle of friends, including his childhood Dothan companions, college teammates, and fellow basketball referees, as well as his golfing buddies throughout middle and north Georgia. George was very close to his family, regularly visiting with relatives in Alabama, often playing golf with one or more of his sons, and attending sports events for his grandchildren. George’s friends and family were drawn to his cheerful nature, his endearing spirit, and his unwavering love and support. George greatly enriched the lives of those around him. He will be dearly missed and always remembered by his family and friends.

George was preceded in death by his father, Theo “Moon” Raley, his mother, Ethel Parker Raley, and his brother, Sonny Raley. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly Langston Raley (Ringgold, Georgia), his sons Brian (Atlanta, Georgia), John (Perry, Georgia) and Patrick (Warner Robins, Georgia), his grandchildren Madison Raley Workman (Marietta, Georgia), Jake Raley (Augusta, Georgia), Clare Raley (Atlanta, Georgia), Lucie Raley (Auburn, Alabama), Rachel Raley (Calhoun, Georgia), Ivy Raley (Perry, Georgia) and Isabel Raley (Perry, Georgia), and his great-granddaughter Millie Raley (Augusta, Georgia). George is also survived by his loving older sisters Patricia Cutchen (Columbus, Georgia) and Shirley Adkins (Dothan, Alabama).

Please share memories of George on the Companion Funerals tribute wall. A memorial service will be held at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) or the Humane Society of Northwest Georgia (www.hsnwga.org/).