Virginia Lee Rawley

Salt Lake City – Virginia Lee Kay Rawley, age 91, passed away August 12, 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
She was born in Provo, Utah April 29, 1922 and grew up in Heber City, Utah where she attended Wasatch High School and developed a love of the mountains and the outdoors. She was the oldest child of Leah Murdock Kay and Lee P. Kay.
Virginia was educated as a Registered Nurse at LDS Hospital. After working three years there, she joined the Army Nurse Corps, with a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant. She later earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University (then the Utah State Agricultural College).
While in the Army Nurse Corps stationed at Bushnell Army Hospital in Brigham City, Utah, she met Edwin V. Rawley. Ed was her patient, and as he told the story, he fell in love with Virginia at first sight. Who wouldn’t; she was beautiful, intelligent, and witty. He was a persistent man, showing up in his capacity as Army Air Corps Hospital Liaison Officer when she was posted to other hospitals around the country. In the end, he won her heart and they were married in a military ceremony at the Fort Douglas chapel in Salt Lake City in 1946. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake LDS Temple.
Virginia was passionate about her family; she was a dedicated, caring wife and mother. She loved to garden and was known for her abundant vegetable garden as well as her roses and geraniums. We all benefitted from her talents as an accomplished cook because she loved to entertain. She made many friends and kept them for life. She was a devoted member of the LDS church serving in the Primary in her younger years, and in the Relief Society in later years. She served as a Docent/Missionary at the LDS Fine Arts Museum, work that opened a new world to her which she embraced with much excitement and happiness. She was also an active member of the Utah Daughters of Pioneers.
Travel was a major joy for Virginia and Ed. They and their four children traveled extensively throughout the U.S.; Ed and Virginia also enjoyed trips to Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the Caribbean.
Virginia is survived by her daughter Lee Ann (Al Smith), and sons Kent (Karen), Alan, and Scott (Rachel), nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and her sisters Carol Durrant and Kathleen Allen. She is preceded in death by her husband Ed, her parents, sister Eloese and brother Richard, and grandsons Matt and Joey.
Family and friends are invited to funeral services and a reception on Saturday, August 17, 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Memorial Chapel, 1640 East Lakeview Drive, Bountiful, Utah.
The family would like to thank Jill Driesel and her staff in the Memory Care Unit at Emeritus Salt Lake City, Debi Paulsen and her team at Brighton Hospice, and caregivers from Danville Support Services, especially Sara, Mosie and Mary for their years of dedicated and loving care of our mother.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Alzheimer’s Association of Utah (at alz.org) or The Humane Society of Utah.