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 Laura 'Pauline' Rapley, 89
 May 02, 2013
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Laura "Pauline" Rapley, 89, of Wheaton, Ill., died peacefully on Thursday, May 2, 2013, with her children by her side.
Born in North Adams on July 12, 1923, daughter of Stewart and Tressa Godfrey Ray, she spent her childhood from the age of 2 in Williamstown, graduating from the former Williamstown High School. Her maternal grandparents, Franklin and Florence "Effie Lee" Godfrey, who lived on Henderson Road would play an important role in her memories. She moved to Chicago and graduated from the Chicago School of Physical Education.
She married Kenneth Rapley of Oak Park, Ill., on Oct. 15, 1946. They had 63 wonderful years together and raised four children in Wheaton. He died on Dec. 29, 2009.
Mrs. Rapley spent the last 16 months writing poetry with her daughter, Nancy Link, and telling of her wonderful memories in Williamstown. She talked often of her cousins, the White Oaks Church and the walnut tree on the Beverly property that was very special to her.
Besides her daughter and her husband, Randall, of Illinos, she leave another daughter, Susan Oury and her husband, Michael; two sons, Keith Rapley and his wife, Bobbie, and Steven Rapley and his wife, Cindy; her loving brother, Richard Godfrey Ray; six grandchildren, Tressa Link and her fiance, Brendan Wischweh, Brian Link and his wife, Kim, Michael Oury and his wife, Bonnie, Kali Grantz and her husband, Kevin, and Carrie and Laura Rapley, and five great-grandchildren, Kayla, Jasper, Kyle, Katie and Lexi.
Her daughter Nancy would like to thank the town of Williamstown for giving her mother many wonderful memories and the gift of those memories in stories and poems to be passed down and treasured.
Hi Mom,
Merry CHristmas. We all missed you today. Wish you were still here.
Think of you everyday.
Love, Nan | | from: Nancy | on: 12-25-2013 |
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| Hi Mom. 4 months ago today you left us. Wish you were still here. I think of you every day | | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 09-02-2013 |
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Still miss you everyday. Miss our talks and poems we wrote together.
Love always,
Nanny | | from: Nan | on: 08-20-2013 |
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Hi Mom,
Missing you. Tomorrow is 3 months since you left us.
We really miss you and dad.
Love you
Nan | | from: Nancy | on: 08-01-2013 |
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Happy Birthday Mom.
Miss You
| | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 07-12-2013 |
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Hi Mom,
Hope you have a Walnut Tree in Heaven.
Love you. Happy 90th Birthday.
Nan | | from: Nan | on: 07-12-2013 |
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| Hi Mom!!!! Miss you. Happy Birthday. Wish you were here | | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 07-11-2013 |
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| Hi Mom!!! Miss you!! Kali had her baby on Friday. I'm a grandma again and you are a great-grandma again, Jackson Thomas Grantz. Wish you were here to meet the little man. | | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 07-01-2013 |
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Hi Mom.
Working hard on your book.
Missing you.
Love, Nan | | from: Nancy | on: 06-25-2013 |
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| Miss you Mom. Wish you were still here | | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 06-11-2013 |
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Missing you mom. Tressa and Brendan married yesterday. Tell Grandma!
I am going to write your book!
Love you always,
Nanny | | from: Nancy Link | on: 06-06-2013 |
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Hard as barbed wire, soft as a kittens ear
Always knowing, always dear.... K | | from: Keith Rapley | on: 06-05-2013 |
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One week from today mom, Tressa will be married. Almost 100 years to the day since your mom Tressa married your dad.
I am sad you are not here to see her and Brendan get married. But I know you are with them in spirit.
Love and miss you,
Nan | | from: Nancy Link | on: 05-29-2013 |
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| Miss You Mom! | | from: Susan Rapley-Oury | on: 05-29-2013 |
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| Thank You Massachusetts | | from: Steve Rapley | on: 05-29-2013 |
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Mom, we miss you. We couldn't bring you back to your Walnut Tree, but we got you back to Williamstown, by way of the paper.
You had such wonderful memories of Williamstown. I am so glad that you were able to tell them to us over the years.
Your Poem
The Walnut Tree
Bury me under
the Walnut Tree
over in the pastureland
beyond the fence
it was far away
but such memories I still have
I will always have the Walnut Tree
A place I will not part
wherever I go
I will always have
A branch within my heart. L.P.R. 4/25/2013 | | from: Nancy Link | on: 05-29-2013 |
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