Annie Laurie "Ann" Bouknight Rauch

Saluda, SC Annie Rauch Annie Laurie Bouknight (Ann) Rauch, 101 years young peacefully went to be with The LORD JESUS Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at Wildewood Downs Assisted Living Community in Columbia. Funeral arrangements are pending at this time. Memorials may be made to Travis Park Cemetery Association, P.O. Box 1174 Saluda, SC 29138 or Mt. Pleasant Lutheran Church, 101 Calhoun Street, Saluda, SC 29138. Ann was born June 28, 1924, to the late Pinkney Schumpert Bouknight and Lula Belle Lott Bouknight. She graduated from Saluda High School in 1941 after attending Chappells School through 10th grade. She worked as a stenographer for twelve years at Palmetto Hosiery Mill. Ann and late husband of 62 years (JT) Jasper Tolbert Duffie Rauch were married July 2, 1949, at Shiloh Methodist Church. In 1952 they joined Mt. Pleasant Evangelical Lutheran Church. Attending worship and Sunday school was vitally important in their lives. Ann was active with WELCA for 60 years. Serving on the council and committees was a blessing. The fellowship and friendships were treasured the 66 years Ann was active until March 2018. The communication and correspondence from friends and family since then brought love, joy and peace to her. Surviving are two devoted daughters, Laura Rauch Hibbits of Murrells Inlet and Janet Rauch (Bob) Keen of Columbia, two grandchildren, (Robert) James Keen III of Charlotte, and Linda Ann Keen of Charleston, two sisters, Mary (Sonny) Skenes of Columbia and Bett (Jim) Benson of Barnwell, and a sister-in-law, Ginger (Bill) Bouknight of Simpsonville. Mrs. Ann was preceded in death by three brothers, Daniel Bouknight, Bill Bouknight, and Pete (Net) Bouknight, and an infant sister, Katherine Louise Bouknight. Ann graduated from Saluda High School in 1941 after attending Chappells School through 10th grade. Following graduation, she worked as a stenographer for twelve years at Palmetto Hosiery Mill. J.T. and Ann became owners and merchants of Rauch’s Hardware on Church St. Saluda across from the courthouse. They enjoyed and appreciated the loyalty of patrons, and conversations from the community. Ann’s favorite was to aid in choosing paint color and wallpaper. Her advice was “Don’t paint the walls without painting the ceiling.” After being career managers at Rauch’s Inc. for 40+ years they retired in 2001. Ann was 77 years and J.T. was 81 years young of age. Later travel included an Alaskan Cruise, Bahamas, San Antonio TX, Branson MO, Washington DC, and Nashville TN. Ann was a member of Pyracantha Garden Club from 1954 until she was honored as a National Life Member. Served as a master flower show judge for 35 years in SC. Honored as National Garden Club Emeritus. Awarded blue ribbons for her flower arrangement entries. Completed landscaping courses and served on the Saluda Planning Committee. Ann and J.T. enjoyed planting, working the soil, growing flowers and vegetables. Saluda Historical Society Member. She liked games and was a member of two bridge clubs for 50 years. She and friends often played twice a week for refreshments, fun and laughter. Turning 90, she formed the “90 Year Old Members Club”. She was a great listener and a positive progressive thinker. She desired to inspire and encourage people to share their blessings, gifts and talents. Let’s be gracious generous givers to provide for the common good for Saluda. Her heart was to encourage ALL Saluda County citizens to “come together, talk together, plan together and provide together” creative ideas to strengthen, enhance, improve, teach, beautify and unify for the common good – body, soul and spirit. She and J.T. had worked to improve the looks of Travis Park. In her 80’s she founded and organized the Travis Park Cemetery Association and served as a board member. She was thankful for all who joined, cared, gave and worked hard. Her study along with Pastor Ann and Pastor Glander’s Bible teaching opened her eyes and heart to a closer walk and relationship with Jesus her Lord and Savior. She shared her love and joy in the God of the Bible. Her heart changed, so she gladly shared “Galatians 5:16-26. The fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.” She was an amazing woman loved by her daughters, family and friends. God blessed us with a mother who gave generously from her heart, soul and spirit. A fun working story. She liked fun. Parties. Church. Flowers. Loved family and friends. She liked fun. Hard work was fun. Remember: Work is fun. Growing up in her family was hard work but much love. How do you describe Ann Rauch? Do these resonate? Hard working, fun with no nonsense, literal, talker, full of ideas, driven, motivated, creative, smart, mathematician, organized, helpful, generous, happy, a Jesus girl, positive thinker, progressive, never stopping, motivated to get it done. She was either dressed to work or dressed in her finery and looking pretty. So thankful she was our Mother. Ann liked projects and chose to be actively busy with one. She wanted to enlist everyone around her to be busily working with her. “Work is fun.” She also said she could work an army. I believe it. She commanded in a nice way. One may occasions thru the years and before her 90th birthday party she had many tasks. She had no need for sleep, no pain, great health, determined drive, and a plan eager to implement. We enlisted to help her. We would get started with the plan about the time normal people went to bed, 10:00pm. The three of us would go to the storage room or the memory house to start what needed to be done. She got great joy and satisfaction through the process of the project’s journey without any complaining. She was calm, cool and collected. Never out of line. I can’t say that about the two of us. This continuing into the early mourning hours was typical. Her endurance and energy was amazing. We marveled – how does she carry on? We wondered. Oh yea, she’s a sturdy girl. Laura got that gene. Janet’s, hoping she gets grafted in with the gene. Quitting hours later, we’d come in dragging. Not Mother. She would invite us to sit down in the kitchen to sit awhile, talk and have a snack or some prunes. Guess what. We did. Did you know she liked conversation? We ate and talked maybe for hours. Who does this? After that she took time to get ready for bed. Well not us. Laura and I just fell flat in the bed exhausted past ready for sleep. The next morning Mother was up fixing us breakfast. She always fed us three complete delicious meals including fresh beans and corn from the garden. She always had ice cream and a cookie, cake or homemade pecan pies. We always loved and looked forward to seeing what was on the agenda. We had fun working right along beside her. We laughed, cried, ate, worked and sat and talked together. Those were special times with our amazing Mother. Please share your memories and condolences online at www.rameyfuneralhome.com.

Annie Laurie "Ann" Bouknight Rauch

June 28, 1924 - October 22, 2025