Muriel Rackliff

Muriel Bates Rackliff, 90, of Clemmons, NC passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 27th, 2018, her daughter by her side. She was the devoted wife of Roger Curtis Rackliff for 70 years. She was born in Howland, Maine, the 4th of 6 children to the late William Osgood Bates and Marie C. (Lugdon) Bates. After marriage, she moved to Harrisburg, PA when Roger was employed with Bethlehem Steel. She worked in various office positions completing her working career as an office manager for Lower Paxton Township and Dauphin County Schools. She was predeceased by her son, Roger Curtis Rackliff, Jr., her parents and her siblings, Earl Weston, Andrew Wayne, Fern Pauline Rakauskas, Clair Reginald, and Vaughn Osgood. She is survived by her husband, Roger Rackliff; a daughter, Marsha Rackliff Maxey (Richard), her "sister-cousin" Virginia Malinowski, her step-grandchildren, Richard E. Maxey, Jr. (Cynthia) and Robert J. Maxey (Vicki), 5 step great grandchildren, Mary Katherine Peninger(Daniel), Sarah Maxey, Hannah Maxey, Julian Maxey, Christian Maxey and many nieces and nephews. Muriel was always the organizer. As a newcomer to Harrisburg, she organized a Welcome Wagon Newcomers Club, serving as President for two years, then served as a chairwoman of the Harrisburg Community Civic Association. As their children grew older, she and Roger joined the Harrisburg Bicycle Club, pedaling throughout the United States on trips of often 75 miles a day. When her husband retired, they moved to Sun City Center, Florida and in l980 she began lawn bowling. She quickly fell in love with the sport and founded the ladies "Suncoasters Club" of the American Women's Lawn Bowls Association (AWLBA) at Sun City Center; she served 8 years as AWLBA Treasurer and 4 years on the Selection Committee for the USA Women's Team. She served as Co-Chair of the International Atlantic Rim Games for the event's inaugural appearance in the USA in l993. Muriel bowled on two USA National teams; Hong Kong ('91) and Victoria, Canada ('93). In l995 she managed the USA Women's Team at the Pacific Rim Games in Dunedin, New Zealand, medaling in the "fours" for the first time in 20 years. She served as president of her local lawn bowling club in 2004 and 2005. She made 8 appearances at the USA Lawn Bowling Championships and in 2005 was inducted in the Bowls USA, Lawn Bowling Hall of Fame. She and Roger thoroughly enjoyed their 37 retirement years in Sun City Center, Florida. They made many lifetime friends in their neighborhood, their church and the Lawn Bowling Club. They were active and busy every day. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Old Town, Maine, her former hometown. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to a charity of your choice or to Grace Lutheran Church Building Fund, PO Box 1735, Clemmons, NC 27012. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com (Hayworth-Miller Kinderton Chapel)