Obituary of Mildred Louise Epps Raby

Mildred (Mickey) Louise Epps Raby, age 96 of Ocala, FL, formerly of Knoxville, TN passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 12, 2020. Mickey was a graduate of Old Knoxville High School in 1942 and attended the University of Tennessee. Throughout her years in Knoxville (1961-2014)  she was active in several church, community, and civic activities. She was a great golfer, once even scoring a hole in one. She led Girl Scouts, participated in Akima Club, played tennis at the Racquet Club, sang with the Knoxville Women’s Chorus, and with Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church Choir. Mickey and her husband, Kenneth N. Raby (former special agent with the FBI) loved entertaining. Often, they hosted YoungLife and church activities, and she enjoyed attending Women’s Circle and various Bible studies. Together, they raised three daughters and modeled what a God honoring marriage and Christ centered family looks like.  In retirement years, she and Ken traveled, enjoying family and friends from all over.

            She and Ken relocated to Ocala in 2014. They attended Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church. Mickey faithfully attended a weekly women’s Bible study.  She lived at Brookdale Chambrel Pinecastle and was active as hospitality chairman and president of the council there. Her favorite activities throughout her 96 years included water aerobics, walking, golfing, playing bridge, reading, and singing.  She looked forward to the many ‘girls trips’ planned by her daughters, often enjoying the Florida coast.  Mickey loved discussing current events with her sons-in-law. A smile was always on her face when she was around any of her six beloved grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren.

            She was preceded in death by her husband, Ken, of 72 years; her parents, Mildred Fortune Epps and Gale F. Epps; brothers, Kyle E. Epps and Morris F. Epps and sister, Edith Epps Clendenen.

            Mickey is survived by her children, Joanne Raby Bertalan and husband, Reverend Edward F. Bertalan, of Ocala, FL; Jane Raby Johnson and husband, John T. Johnson, of Knoxville, TN and Marcia Raby Acuff and husband, Dr. Robert V. Acuff, of Elizabethton, TN; six grandchildren, Marianne Bertalan Anderson, Amy Bertalan Bowles, Ginny Bertalan O’Kain, Josh Johnson, Joy Johnson Cooper, and Marcia Allison Nicole Acuff; and sixteen great grandchildren; sister, Betty Arnett of Anchorage, AK.

            Her last words of advice to her family following the reading of her favorite Bible passage, 1 Corinthians 13, were “love each other and be happy”…something she displayed well throughout her life.

Service:  Immediate Family Graveside Service will be held on August 10, 2020 at 3 pm at Highland Memorial Cemetery, Knoxville, TN.  Officiating: Rev. Ed Bertalan, Rev. Matt Bowles.  Pallbearers: Drew Anderson, Matt Bowles, Darrell O’Kain, Josh Johnson, John Cooper.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to one or more of the following:

Cedar Springs of Knoxville, TN
9132 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37923

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
151 SW 87th Place, Ocala, FL 34476 or the charities of

Samaritans Purse

https://sampur.se/30BhQ1J

https://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/christian-charity/

 

Thompson Cancer Survival Center
https://www.thompsoncancer.com/giving/

Please visit hiers-baxley.com and cartertrent.com to express words of condolences to the family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mildred Raby, please visit Tribute Store