Mary Ellen 'Molly' Burnley Rapson

MAGNOLIA - Mary Ellen "Molly" Burnley Rapson, of Magnolia, passed away Monday, March 24, 2008, in Broad Meadows Nursing Home. She was 83.

Mrs. Rapson was born May 23, 1924, in Calvert, Pa., to the late Louis Algard and Jessie (Watson) Algard.

Mrs. Rapson graduated from Goldey-Beacom College; after graduation she went to work for the American Red Cross, Shaffers, Hard Castles as a picture framer. She worked until her retirement at 65 years old.

She enjoyed singing, crossword puzzles, reading and sewing.

Mrs. Rapson attended Magnolia Methodist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her three sisters, Susan, Mildred and Marion; and her two husbands, Ernest B. Burnley and Charles E. Rapson.

Mrs. Rapson is survived by her three children, Stephen A. Burnley and his wife Chris of Alexandria, Va., William J. Burnley and his wife Jane of Magnolia and Susan E. Motta and her husband Michael of North East, Md.; her sister, Gladys Coates of Oxford, Pa.; five grandchildren, Aaron, Christopher, Julia, Lisa and Sean; and five great-grandchildren, Sydney, Emma, Isabella, Nicholas and Jessie.

Services will be noon today in the Magnolia United Methodist Church, 39 N. Main St., Magnolia.

Instead of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Kent County SPCA, 32 Shelter Circle, Camden, DE 19934.

Letters of condolence may be sent and guestbook signed at www.torbertfuneral.com.