MORLEY - Roy William Ragains, 86, died at 10:25 p.m. Feb. 17, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.
Born March 21, 1917, in Morley, son of the late Ulysses Grant and Lula May Griggs Ragains, he was a member of the Morley Methodist Church. He served with the U.S. Army Infantry in New Guinea during World War II and received two Bronze Stars, the Distinguished Unit Badge and the Combat Infantry Badge for the New Guinea Campaign.
Ragains attended Morley schools and graduated from Southeast Missouri State University at Cape Girardeau with a degree in education. He later earned his masters in education degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. A grade school mathematics, English and social studies teacher, he was also a physical education instructor for high school students, all with Morley schools. In addition to serving as head coach for the Morley boys' and girls' basketball teams, he was a referee for basketball, baseball, football and softball games in Southeast Missouri. His educational service continued as principal of Morley High School and later as superintendent for the Morley and Scott County Central High Schools. In 1980, he was recognized for 42 years of service to education by the 80th General Assembly of the Missouri Senate. Ragains was also a member of the Missouri State Teacher's Association, Missouri Retired Teacher's Association, Missouri Association of School Administrators and former member of the Morley Rotary Club.
On April 22, 1944, in Blytheville, Ark., he married Reda Evans who survives of the home.
His sister, Lula Ruth Stone of Bunker Hill, W.Va., and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews also survive.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel in Sikeston where services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday. The Rev. William F. Koch, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Sikeston, will officiate.
The Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard will conduct graveside rites at the Old Morley Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be: Jerry Dye, Rick Emerson, Tim Emerson, Michael Emerson, Mark Evans and Jim Caskey.
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