Raylene Crowell

**Raylene Crowell** is a fictional character in the ABC daytime drama *General Hospital*.

She was played by Mary Gross in 2008.

## Storylines

On December 3, 2008, Nadine tells Nikolas that her aunt Raylene is really sick. She had a heart bypass about five years ago and started having chest pains a few days ago. The doctors are saying it is terminal. Raylene wants to die at her farmhouse surrounded by loved ones as she doesn’t trust hospitals. Ironically she encouraged Nadine to become a nurse.

Nadine says her dad died of a botched surgery when she was ten. Her mom shut down and eventually moved away. As Raylene was her father’s older sister, she took care of Nadine and her sister Jolene. Nadine regrets being so far away from her aunt but she talks to her on the phone almost every day.

Raylene’s brother Vance tells Nadine that her aunt wants to see Nadine married before she dies. Nadine tells Nikolas she couldn’t admit to Raylene the truth so her aunt thinks they are getting married and wants to meet Nikolas.

Raylene tells Nikolas that he and Nadine are meant for each other. Raylene asks to speak to Nikolas alone. Nikolas says that Nadine saved his life. Raylene points out that Nikolas didn’t use the word "love". Nikolas admits he isn’t sure he is ready to love again after his wife passed and he doesn’t know what will happen in the future.

Raylene warns Nikolas to be careful with Nadine as she has had her heart broken before. Nadine tries to stay cheerful like her aunt but she may not recover if she is hurt again.

Nikolas goes to talk to Nadine who tells him that Raylene fell in love with a married lawyer. His wife was crazy and was in and out of hospitals. Once she recovered she moved away with her husband. Nadine can tell her aunt is still heartbroken about it.

Later Raylene is out of her room and asks if the couple has set a date. Nadine confesses that Nikolas never asked her to marry him. Nadine thought it up to prevent him from being deported. He tried to talk her out of it. Nikolas is only fine with it now as it is Raylene’s dying wish. Nadine says that Nikolas is sweet for accepting the proposal. Then she notices that Raylene has passed away.

## After Death

Nadine introduces Nikolas to Eric Holt, a high school friend who is now an attorney. Raylene had asked Eric to write up her will shortly after he got his degree. He says Raylene wanted her will heard right after the funeral. Eric tells Nadine that her aunt left her something important.

Nadine gives a moving eulogy during a service and Eric has the family watch Raylene’s will which is on DVD. Raylene divides the farm between Vance’s son, Bo, and Nadine. Vance receives $2 million, Bo receives $1 million, and $3 million is left in a trust for the medical care of the comatose Jolene. Nadine is left an envelope which upsets Nikolas.

Inside Nikolas finds a schematic for a plow. Nadine notes that it says "Patented by Raylene Crowell." Nadine has no idea her aunt was an inventor. She wonders if the inheritance money all came from this invention. Nikolas says it would have to be from international sales for Raylene to make that much money.

In January 2009, Nikolas finds out a company named Equinox has the license for the patent. As Equinox is a defense company, it is likely the patent is being used to make weapons.

Equinox offers Nadine a check for use of the patent for the next four years. Nadine tears up the check when she isn’t told why Equinox want it. The IRS threatens to audit Nadine so she flies to DC to testify before a senate committee about how Equinox tried to strong-arm her to use the plow coupler her aunt had patented.

After feeling threatened, she signs the patent’s ownership over to the more powerful Nikolas. The senators tell Nadine that she now has control of the patent and it would not be used to make weapons.

## Health and Vitals

* Had a heart bypass [2003; revealed Dec 3, 2008]
* Died of cardiac related issues [Dec 10, 2008]