William “Bill” Ragland, age 96, of Clinton, Missouri passed away peacefully on Friday, July 9, 2021 at Jefferson Gardens in Clinton, Missouri surrounded by family.
Bill was born on March 27, 1925 and as a 10-year-old he accepted Christ as his Savior at First Baptist Church of Clinton. Graduating from Calhoun High School in 1943, Bill enlisted in the Navy and served as a Hospital Corpsman for the Marines. He served overseas at Guadalcanal in the Pacific. He completed his enlistment in 1945 and married Mary Helen Bradley on June 2, 1946. Bill graduated from the University of Missouri in 1951 with a degree in Animal Science. His first Job was Farm Manager for WD Windsor Angus Farm in Boonville, Mo. Next he was Herd Manager for Hillside Angus Farm in Washington, Mo. Bill began his own Angus herd with one bull and seven cows in 1954. Purchasing the farm where he lived in 1956, Bill began Ragland Angus Farm where he was a leading breeder of registered angus cattle. From 1958-1965 Bill also worked as a Chemist and Weigh Master for Peabody Coal in Calhoun, Mo. From 1965-1970 he served as Manager for Better Black Inc., for Dr. Bill Bradshaw & Sam Oberkrom of Clinton. From 1970-1988 Bill was Field Manager for Vigortone Pre-Mix. Bill sold health insurance from 1988-2012 for Houk Agency in Clinton. In 2014 he founded Bill’s Indoor Croquet, designing and manufacturing his sets with sales in California, Texas and even overseas in England. Bill was an active member of the Quarles Baptist Church during several periods from 1938-1970, when he rejoined First Baptist of Clinton in 1970 where he served as deacon. He was ordained as deacon in 1955 during his employment in Washington, Mo., at their First Baptist Church, and joined the Gideons in 1972 where he became an active speaker. Bill spoke to over 100 churches and served on a mission trip to Venezuela. He was a 4-H leader beginning in 1956 and coached the meat judging team. He was active and served in leadership roles with the Missouri Grassland Angus, Missouri Angus and American Angus Associations. Ragland Angus held a dispersal sale in 1998, retiring Bill from the cattle business. Bill never met a stranger and he & Mary Helen’s family, church and friends were everything to them. He was awarded a certificate of appreciation for his work restoring Historic Brown Cemetery. He was awarded the Missouri Agricultural person of the year in 2016.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 74 years, Mary Helen (Bradley) Ragland on December 28. They would have celebrated their 75th Silver Wedding Anniversary on June 2 of this year. Bill is survived by five children, Janice Ragland of Liberty, Mo., Nancy Ragland of Clinton, Mo., William Burril Ragland 2nd (Linda) of Tunis, Mo., Darrell Ragland (Val) of Hastings Nebraska and Roy Ragland (Chris) of Liberty, Mo. Bill has 10 grandchildren, Jonathon Ragland (April), Ashley Ragland Dilley (Tom), Stanton Ragland, Garrett Ragland, Alison Joyce (Kevin), Abby Stoddard (Nick), Andrew Huber (Taryn), Culley Creach (Colette), Marlena Wells and Rebecca Wells. He has 26 great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held July, 13, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Clinton, MO with Dr. Randy Shipman officiating. Special music included “Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art.” The casket bearers were Stanton Ragland, Jon Ragland, Ashley Ragland Dilley, Bob Ragland, Rick Bowser, Garrett Ragland, Tom Dilley, Kenny Ragland, Scott Ragland and Ron Bowser. Interment followed in Vansant Road Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. Military honors were under the direction of VFW Post #1894.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
SHIRLEY ANN HENNY
Shirley Henny, age 89, of Clinton, Missouri passed away on Monday, July 5, 2021 at The Arbors at Glendale Gardens in Clinton, Missouri.
Funeral services were held July 9, 2021 at the Clinton United Methodist Church with Rev. Monty Stratton officiating. Special music included “Old Rugged Cross and In the Garden with Sam Lucas as organist. Interment followed in White Oak Cemetery, Urich, Missouri.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, Missouri.
