Ella Rae Rafferty Obituary

Ella Rae Rafferty was born April 19th, 1927 in Richmond, Kentucky to Reuben & Virginia Baker, in her grandparents' home. She was always proud to say she was one of 5 cousins born in the Broadway home. Ella Rae was the oldest of 10 children. The family moved to Ludlow, Kentucky, where she attended high school, graduating with the class of 1946.

The summer before her senior year she came out to Mankato, Kansas to work for her Aunt Katherine & Uncle Merle Reager & take care of her cousin, Mike Reager. During her summer in Kansas she met the love of her life, Lyle Eugene Rafferty. She returned to Ludlow, Kentucky to finish her senior year. After graduation she moved to Mankato, Kansas & married Lyle Rafferty on June 21st, 1949. They were blessed with 5 children, Rod Lyle (Rowdy) Lynda, Rae, Marty & Jami.

They ran the Sinclair station until they sold it when Lyle took a job with the United States Post Office. They bought and ran Sleepy Hollow Motel until 1973, when Lyle passed away.

After Lyle's death Ella Rae moved back into their house at 507. The summers were spent in Kentucky spending time with family & at the family farm at Clay City, Ky, below Pilots Knob. Reunion there were spent exploring the creek & climbing to the top of Pilot's Knob. Ella Rae also took up dancing & enjoyed going to Singles dances with a large group of friends.

The greatest joys in her life were watching her grandchildren and working in her vegetable & flower gardens. She also had a passion for reading that was passed down to her family. Ella Rae loved to feed the song birds especially cardinals. She watched for them & enjoyed listening to them sing on her backyard patio surrounded by the lilac bushes Lyle had planted. She collected cardinal plates & statues, having over 200 in her collection. She was very proud of telling everyone about the streets in Lexington, Ky her brother Jim named after her, Ella Rae Lane & Ella Rae Court. She was a life time member of the VFW Auxiliary Post #7830 in Mankato & a member of the Red Hat society. Many giggles were shared with friends in the Jewell County Senior limo on shopping trips to Hastings.

In her later years Ella Rae moved to the Jewell Apartments. She enjoyed her time in Jewell, especially the trips with the gals of the Red Hat Society. When she required additional care, Ella Rae moved to Hilltop Lodge in Beloit. She passed away at Mitchell County Hospital, Beloit, Kansas on May 16th, 2022 at the age of 95 years old.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lyle Rafferty, her sons, Rod (Rowdy) Rafferty & Marty Rafferty, a son in law, Forrest Dewey, her parents, Reuben & Virginia Baker, & two sisters, Alice Baker Clemons & Gloria Deannie Mango, family in laws, Mike & Maxine Rafferty, Richard Rafferty & Mick Rafferty.

She is survived by her daughters, Lynda Dewey, Mankato, Rae Rafferty, Barnard, & Jami Underwood, Jewell. Her grandchildren Shawna & Lennie Blain, Steven Rafferty, Tisha Dewey, Jon Hajny, Jaci Dewey, Jasmin & Tanner Dauner, & Waude Underwood. Her great grandchildren, Merritt & Brittany Blain, Jayde Blain, Bailey Hajny, Cameron Hajny, Alyssa Hajny, Kellan Dauner & Harper Dauner. Great Great grandchildren Harper Dickau, Porter Dickau, Lina Rueling, Fallon Blain & Huxley Blain.  Siblings, Buddy (Roy) Baker, Barbara Kingsbury, Jackie & Dick Roden, Judy Baker, Ronnie Baker, Jim & Darlene Baker, & Don & Mary Jo Baker, sister in laws Evelyn Rafferty & Emma Jean Rafferty, many nieces, nephews, extended family & friends.

The family requests that you please feed & listen to the cardinals in memory of Ella Rae.

Graveside Memorial Services at: Burr Oak Cemetery, Burr Oak, Kansas
Time of Service: Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 10:30 am
Clergy: Pastor Dan Daniels
Memorials to: VFW Auxiliary Post #7830 or the Burr Oak Cemetery Board
Funeral Home: Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 Phone 402-879-3900