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Ray Fowler
LaFORGE, Mo. — Ray Fowler of Laforge left this earth for his heavenly home on Feb. 28, 2023, peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones. He was born on March 24, 1937, to W.B. And Bessie Beatrice Barbre Fowler on his great-grandfather’s farm in Laforge.
The funeral services will be held at Kewanee Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, March 4, 2023. Visitation beginning at 11 a.m. with funeral services immediately following at 1 p.m. Burial will be at Mounds Cemetery in Howardville, Missouri.
Pallbearers will be: Gabe Murphy, Kevin Graves, Blake Joran, Grayson York, Dustin Vincent, Clay Sisson, Brad Prince, Tim Prince and Matt Prince.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Danny Hall, Jimmy Cravens, Boo Boo Pipken, Danny Farrenburg, Timmy Farrenburg, Mack Prince, Dub Prince and Cary Prince.
Ray was a graduate of Kewanee High School and Southeast Missouri State University with degrees in Agriculture, Biology and Earth Science. He also returned to school to get his teaching certificate.’
After graduation, he was employed with Ralston Purina in Montgomery City, Missouri. He returned home to do what he loved, which was farming. He taught biology at New Madrid Junior High in his off-season until he began farming full-time in 1972.
Ray was a charter member of the NMCC Booster Club, a member of the PCA Board of Directors, a summer league baseball coach, an Honorary Deputy Sheriff and an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan. He was proud to claim baptism in Swift Ditch at age 13. He was a strong man of faith, a member of Kewanee Missionary Baptist Church for 73 years and a beloved Sunday school teacher.
Ray married the love of his life, Carolyn Prince, in 1962 and celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in January. He is survived by a sister, Joanne Sisson of Portageville, Missouri; a son, Tom (Lori) Fowler of Cape Girardeau, Missouri; a daughter, Beth (Gerald) Murphy of New Madrid, Missouri; grandchildren; Jessie (Blake) Jordan of New Madrid, Alex (Kevin) Graves of Cape Girardeau, Jordan (Grayson) York of New Madrid, Miranda (Dustin) Vincent of Cape Girardeau, and Gabe Murphy of Nashville, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Rae, Grant and Quinn Graves, Graham and Mia Jordan, Riley Vincent and Gatlin York; and several nieces and nephews.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, W.B. and Bessie Fowler; brothers-in-law, Bud Sisson, Wayne Prince and Thomas Prince; sisters-in-law, Shirley Prince, Beverly Prince and Linda Prince.
Ray will be remembered for his love of his family, his never ending sense of humor, his entertaining story telling, his heckling of local referees and umpires, being the local historian, and his love of farming. He had a wonderful life filled with laughter, love, family, incredible friendships and the “Kewanee Gang” that always found time to celebrate life.
Memorials can be made to St. Jude Children’s fund.