Mary Raleigh Ridge

Mary RALEIGH Ridge died at home in Hospice care, on October 15, 2025, after a short hospital stay for liver cancer.
Born June 24, 1943 in Louisville to Christine and John Ridge, she was predeceased by her parents and her sister Carlton Ridge.
She is a 1961 honors graduate of Sacred Heart Academy where she was active in many school events, loved playing field hockey and coedited the Sacred Heart newspaper.
At the University of Kentucky she majored in Latin, generating puzzling looks from friends and dates. A member of Chi Omega sorority, she swam with the Blue Marlins and danced as a member of Terpsichore, the modern dance fraternity.
After earning her Latin degree with a teacher's certificate in 1965, she began her teaching career at Durrett High School. Raleigh earned her Master's Degree in English in 1970. While teaching English part time at the University of Louisville and Jefferson Community College, she still found time to serve on the District Judges Foster Care Review Board.
Under her father's tutelage, Raleigh became a real estate appraiser, when not many women were in the field. She worked with her father's firm that also included her son and former husband. While working full time as a Realtor and Appraiser, because of her life-long fascination with psychology, Raleigh enrolled at the Kent School of Social Work at UofL in 1980. In 1991 she earned her second Master's degree, a MSSW. She then began her career as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Raleigh practiced at Life Spring, Parkview and retired from Kilgore Counseling Center. She also served as an expert court witness on occasion. Raleigh received many letters from grateful clients.
Raleigh was always active in the community. As a teenager she and a good friend attended a Board of Alderman meeting to raise awareness of problems in and around the Seneca Park tennis courts. The city parks department was responsive to their complaint.
Raleigh was a member of the Junior League, the League of Women Voters and most recently the UofL Alumni Women's Club. She was also a faithful member of her book club for over 30 years. She especially loved ice skating with Moms on Ice and playing Mahjong with her friends.
Although she grew up at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, she spent many years at Harvey Browne Memorial Presbyterian Church where her children were baptized and she sang in the choir. Later she came back to the Catholic Church and was an active member and supporter of St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church. She became a friend of Father Jerry Eifler with whom she, Frank, and friends travelled the world. She was a longtime member of the Louisville Boat Club enjoying family dinners and celebrations there all of her life.
She is survived by her loving husband of almost 29 years, Frank Hemko, whom, being the master of the shoe drop Raleigh stated was "entirely adequate"; son, Clay Porter (Holly); daughter, Betsy Darby (Donald); grandsons, Caleb, Liam, Jack, Sean, and Fenn Darby; stepdaughters, LeeAnn Hemko and Brianne Calhoun (Tony Goodwin); granddaughters, Glynis Young, Alyssa Calhoun and Chelsea Tinkham; sister, Mary Thad/Cedar Woman Koons (Eddie Schepps); niece, Woodwind Koons; nephews, Rowan Koons, Alex Auerbach, and Peter Auerbach; and last but not least her loving cats, Keating, McAlister, and O'Toole, just a few of the animals all over the world that she loved.
Raleigh loved Jewelry and fancy shoes. Asheville's Tops For Shoes was her favorite shoe store. Besides her sister Carlton's jewelry, Raleigh's favorite possession was her Stix, hand-painted table from New Morning gallery, also in Asheville, N.C.
Visitation is at Ratterman's on Lexington Road on Wednesday, October 22 from 3PM till 8PM. A funeral mass will be held at St. Frances of Rome church on Friday October 24 at 10AM. Burial will follow at Cave Hill Cemetery.
Make memorial donations to Hildegard House, League of Women Voters or Sacred Heart Academy.