"THE OKEECHOBEE NEWS," Published in Okeechobee, Florida, Obituary Friday, September 5, 1952 Page 1
Last Rites Are Conducted For 104-Year-Old Pioneer,

Funeral services were conducted Sat for Noel Rabon Raulerson, Okeechobee's oldest, and perhaps best-known citizen, who died at his home in Basinger after an illness of several weeks. Mr Raulerson would have been 104 years old on Sep. 3. A lifetime resident of Fla., the deceased had lived in Basinger since 1876. He was born at Plant City on Sep. 3, 1848, and was married to Manda A King on Mar. 8, 1869. To the union was born 17 children, 13 of whom survive. They are Ben, Walter, Miss Nancy , Harley and Maurice Raulerson, of Basinger; Wesley Raulerson, Mrs Mittie Arnold, Mrs Minnie Morgan, Mrs Katie Chandler and Mrs Della Sloan, of Okeechobee; Mrs Callie Clements of Indiantown, Mrs Hattie Henderson of Malabar and Ketley Raulerson of New Smyrna. Also surviving are 110 grandchildren, 165 great grandchildren and 34 great-great grandchildren. Mr. Raulerson was an ardent church worker and affiliated with the Primitive Baptist church at Shilo in Hillsboro county at the age of 21. However, at his request, no church services were held, graveside services being conducted at the Basinger cemetery by Elder Will Harden and Elder Avn Lightsey. Also at Mr Raulerson's request, he was buried in a home-made casket, it being prepared by one of his sons. Pallbearers were grandsons: Rod Chandler, "Tootsie" Morgan, Mann Raulerson, Robert Arnold, Filmore Sloan and Wilford Sloan. The aged man was a cattleman and farmer and was always self-employed. He was recently heard to remark that through all his long life he had "never worked for day wages for any man." With the death of Noel Rabon Raulerson, Okeechobee county loses one of its most colorful characters. He saw the community grow from a few straggling homes in the vast wilderness to the improved ranchland and beautiful homes that make up Okeechobee county today. Always civic minded he devoted 76 years to the improvement of S Fla. So it is with regret that Okee marks the passing of Mr Raulerson even at the advanced age of 104 years. (Re: Diane Bryan)