Mary Reilley Rankin

Mary Reilley RankinMary Reilley Rankin, 65, of Hilton Head Island, passed away on July 23, 2014 after a long battle with cancer, in which she triumphed, but ultimately suffered from a devastating disease that claimed her cognitive abilities. The daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Thomas D. and Vera Reilley, Mary was the third child of eight born in Providence, RI on April 6, 1949 and grew up in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. She later attended Brenau College in Georgia, where she met her husband, William Sloan Rankin, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in History. They married and moved to Hilton Head Island in 1973. Mary briefly taught history before becoming a decorator for Plantation Interiors. Her husband, Bill, was a golf pro at the Plantation Club in Sea Pines until they opened "The University of Hilton Head," the first retail business to emulate a college bookstore. Situated in Harbor Town, the store was a model for others across the nation. Remarkably, the entire Reilley family followed Mary to Hilton Head forty years ago and played an important role during the development of the island. Each of her siblings raised their families on Hilton Head and created an incredible dynamic that most aspire to, but few are able to achieve. Mary was a woman full of love and light. Her family was her whole heart and soul. She was kind and nurturing to her many nieces and nephews, always offered her sweet smile and words of wisdom when they were needed most. However, Mary took the most pride in her two daughters, Reilley and Caroline Rankin, who never failed to give their mother every ounce of love they had. Teaching them that "can't" wasn't a word in their vocabulary, she always provided the means and encouragement for them to achieve anything they chose. Along with Bill, Mary diligently followed her daughter's career on the LPGA. Mary had an affinity for positive thinking and on the cupboard door at home she hung a sign saying, "An obstacle is something you see when you take your eyes off the goal." Her husband, two daughters, seven siblings; Tom & Diane Reilley, Dennis & Deannalynn Reilley, Michaela & Kip Simmons, Michael & Marcia Reilley, Patti & Bain Culton, David & Laura Reilley, Susan Reilley and nearly thirty nieces and nephews survive her in love. A funeral service will be held at Saint Francis by the Sea Catholic Church on Saturday, July 26th at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers the family has established a fund in the Name of Mary Reilley Rankin to benefit the LPGA foundation as well as other local organizations. Send donations in care of Sun Trust to 7 B-7 Greenwood Drive, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928. Please sign our on-line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com