Ella Cilley (born Raby)
Personal
Gender: Female
Date of Birth: September 1913
Date of Death: August 17, 2013
Death Place: Brevard, NC
Ella Raby Cilley
Ella Raby Cilley died on August 17, 2013 at Tore’s Home in Brevard, NC. Daughter of George Washington Raby and Leota Green Raby, she was born in September of 1913. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert Samuel Cilley of Hickory, N.C. Surviving her are her son Robert Cilley and wife Marla of Brevard, daughter Robin Cilley Daugherty and husband Joseph of Asheville and grandson Robert Daugherty of Raleigh. Ella was one of nine children, three of whom (Nancy Raby Compton and Alfred (Bud) Raby of Hickory, and Dorothy Raby Shockley of Benton, Arkansas) survive her, as well as many nieces and nephews. The siblings who have passed are George Raby, Mary Raby Patton, Edna Raby Bain, Ruth Raby Fulkerson and Elizabeth Raby Triol, The Raby family moved from Blowing Rock to Hickory when Ella was a young child and this became her lifetime home. After graduating from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina (now UNCG) in 1934 with a BA degree in Chemistry and Biology, Ella taught school in Gastonia for a year before returning to Hickory to accept a position as the laboratory and radiology technician at Richard Baker Hospital (now Frye Regional Medical Center) where she worked with Dr. Glenn Frye for many years. In 1944 she was part of the medical volunteer staff at the large polio camp known as the Miracle of Hickory. After her children were born, Ella worked at the R.S. Cilley Photographic Studio alongside her husband designing and arranging sets for the local furniture industry portfolios. She enjoyed gardening, travel, wood carving and reading. A very strong, intelligent, artistic and independent woman, she maintained her home in Hickory until a recent fall. Her family wishes to thank the staff at Tore’s Home for their kindness and loving care as well as Transylvania Hospice for their support and expertise. A very special thank you goes to Marla Cilley and her team, Angie Benton, Michele Pietrowski, and Rebecca and Tanner Scruggs for lending their time, expertise and helping out in so many ways. Ella’s graveside service will be held on September 14 at 2:00 p.m. at the J. L. Cilley family plot in Oakwood Cemetery, Hickory. Immediately following the service, a reception for family and friends will be held at the William E. “Jack” Bass, Jr. Memorial Building on the Bass-Smith Funeral Home property. Bass-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to a favorite charity or random acts of kindness as meaningful remembrances.
Published online by Bass-Smith Granite Funeral Service
