RAE VANELL CORGAIN

April 28, 1934 – April 5, 2024

Bakersfield – Rae Vanell Bratton Corgain was born in Avery, Texas on April 28, 1934, and ended her life's journey peacefully at home on April 5, 2024.

Rae moved to Bakersfield with her family at the age of eight and has always considered Bakersfield her home. She attended Greenfield Union School District and then graduated from Bakersfield High School in 1952. She met W.T. Corgain, the love of her life when she was 15 when he saved her from drowning in a local canal. They were married when Rae was 17, just before she entered her Senior year of High School, and W.T. was deployed to the Korean War. They were happily married for 60 years until he passed in 2011.

Rae worked for Bakersfield City School district for 22 years as a school secretary, retiring in January 1997. While she had always treasured the family's annual trip to Pismo Beach, she was able to travel extensively after retirement. She visited Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Holy Land.

Rae was dedicated to her family and was always there for her children and grandchildren. While they were growing up, she always made an extra effort to attend their baseball games, scouting events, piano recitals, and other school activities. She remained close to her family as they grew older, speaking with or seeing Greg and Becky daily. She also enjoyed gathering the family for weekly Sunday dinners.

Rae's faith was incredibly important to her. She grew up attending Greenfield Assembly of God and began attending First Assembly of God in 1975. She was a fixture at Sunday services and Sunday School, as well as a regular at Bible Studies and Senior Activities.

She was preceded in death by her father Raymond Lonnie Bratton, her mother Rachel Cleo Coats Bratton, and her beloved husband W.T. Corgain. She is survived by her daughter Becky and son-in-law Mike Reed; her son Greg; two grandsons Bryce Reed and his wife Jennifer and Brock Reed; her great-grandson Hunter Reed; and Aaron Crow.

Services will be held on April 22, 2024 at 10am at Bakersfield's First Assembly of God in the Blue Chapel, 4901 California Ave.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bakersfield First Assembly of God or Hoffmann Hospice.