Roy Ragains

MORLEY, Mo. -- Roy William Ragains, 86, of Morley died Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2004, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 21, 1917, at Morley, son of Ulysses Grant and Lula May Griggs Ragains. He and Reda Evans were married April 22, 1944, in Blytheville, Ark.

Ragains attended Morley Schools, received a degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University, and a master's degree in education from the University of Missouri at Columbia.

He taught elementary mathematics, English, and social studies, and was a high school physical education instructor, all at Morley Schools.

Ragains served as head coach for the boys and girls basketball teams at Morley, and was a referee for basketball, baseball, football and softball games in Southeast Missouri.

He was also principal at Morley High School and superintendent of Morley and Scott County Central High Schools. He was recognized in 1980 for 42 years of service to education by the 80th General Assembly of the Missouri Senate.

Ragains was a member of Morley Methodist Church, Missouri State Teachers Association, Missouri Retired Teachers Association, Missouri Association of School Administrators, and had been a member of Morley Rotary Club.

He served in the U.S. Army Infantry in New Guinea during World War II. He received two Bronze Stars, Distinguished Unit Badge, and Combat Infantry Badge for the New Guinea Campaign.

Survivors include his wife, and a sister, Lula Stone of Bunker Hill, W. Va.

Friends may call at Nunnelee Funeral Chapel from 5 to 8 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the chapel, with the Rev. William Koch officiating. Burial will be in Old Morley Cemetery, with full military honors by Missouri Military Funeral Honor Guard Unit.