George Dale Ragland

George Dale (Curley) Ragland, 87, of Tamaroa, Ill. passed away Friday, March 1, 2013 at Marshall Browning Hospital in DuQuoin.

He was born in Tamaroa, Ill. on Feb. 11, 1926, the son of George Franklin (Sr.) and Ora Cockrum Ragland. He married F. Jean Plumlee on July 3, 1949 in Piggott, Arkansas and she survives.

He was an active member and Deacon of Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church, serving as Deacon for 47 years. He was a UMWA member, retiring from Consol #2. Mr. Ragland was a member of the Perry County Farm Bureau. His family was very important to him.

Mr. Ragland is survived by his wife: F. Jean Ragland of Tamaroa, Ill.; children: Vickie (John) Hollis of Effingham, Ill., Karen (David) Harrison of Sesser, Ill., Greg (Nancy) Ragland of Tamaroa, Ill. and Nancy (George) Keith of Tamaroa, Ill.; 11 grandchildren: Jason Ragland, Prudence (Bob) Kumming, Alyssa (Brian) Lewis, Johnny (Jessica) Hollis, Doug (Diana) Harrison, Jared (Erica) Hollis, Ashley (Isaac) Miller, Paige Ragland, Alexis Keith, Colin Keith and Jordan Ragland; 11 great-grandchildren: Maddie Kate, Sydney, Nolan, Ava, Sophie, Mason, Justus, Cohen, Carter, Rowen and Jaxon.

Mr. Ragland was preceded in death by his parents, by a brother-Charles E. Ragland, by sisters-Maxine Taylor, Elaine Noward, Imogene Anderson, Verdene Ragland.

Funeral services for Mr. Ragland will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, March 4 at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser with Pastor Larry Cook and Pastor John Hollis officiating. Burial will be in the Paradise Cemetery in Tamaroa. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church, and after 11:00 a.m. until the funeral hour on Monday.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials in Mr. Ragland's memory may be made to the Mission Fund of the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton.