Marianna Raugh Obituary

Marianna Scofield Miller Raugh, aged 89, passed away peacefully on February 26, 2026, in Hickory, NC. Born in Pineville, North Carolina, on October 15, 1936, she was the daughter of James Ross Miller and Rebekah Blankenship Miller. Mariannagraduated from Saint Mary's College (high school '54 and junior college class of '56) and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill '58 where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority.

In 1959 Marianna wed James Plummer Raugh Jr., a gregarious UNC graduate whose professional baseball career took the couple to ballfields from Durham to Panama. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Marianna taught English at Gardner-Webb University when the couple settled in Shelby. After moving to Hickory, where Jim and Marianna lived for more than 50 years, she sold and invested in real estate for several decades, was a member of the Service League of Hickory, the Ladies of the Club Book Club, and a faithful parishioner at First Presbyterian Church.

At her core Marianna was a farm girl grounded by generations who loved and respected the land. Some of her fondest memories were made on the porch of her family's wood-frame house in Pineville, where she listened to her grandmother's stories about her childhood in Brazil where her family settled after the Civil War.

Throughout life Marianna was hardworking, frugal, friendly and generous, with an unguarded wit and little-known talents, like her ability to outshine the most competitive men on the skeet shooting range. Marianna was also a skilled investor and a voracious reader with a prodigious vocabulary who easily mastered New York Times crossword puzzles. Marianna's greatest attribute was her gracious sense of humility. She lived a full life, valued community, and treasured her family and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, James Plummer Raugh Jr., and her older brothers James Ross Miller Jr. and John Stephen "Jack" Miller. She is survived by two daughters, Carson Helsper (Stephen), of Newton, NC, and Anne Keene of Austin, Texas, along with three grandchildren including Charlotte and Mary Helsper, and Mary Russell Keene. The family is grateful for the devotion and support given by Sherry Smith of Comfort Keepers, Kingston Residence of Hickory and Carolina Caring.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.at First Presbyterian Church of Hickory followed by a reception at the Church. Memorials may be made to Carolina Caring Foundation or First Presbyterian Church of Hickory in her honor.

Bass-Smith Funeral Home in Hickory is serving the family of Mrs. Raugh.