MICHAEL LEE RAGSDALE SR.

Michael Lee Ragsdale, Sr., age 72, a resident of Fort Scott, Kan., went to walk with the Lord on Monday, Dec. 15, 2008, at the Medicalodge of Fort Scott. He was born Aug. 16, 1936, in Gallup, New Mexico, the son of James Ragsdale and Hazel Gibson Ragsdale. He was a 1954 graduate of Ray High School in Corpus Christi, Texas.

He met Johnnie Lou Powell in May of 1956 on a blind date and carried the slip of paper she gave him with her phone number in his wallet for 50 years. They married Dec. 19, 1956.

He served in the Air Force for four years. After leaving the Air Force he began working for International-Harvester-Navistar in Corpus Christi in a career that lasted 42 years.

He enjoyed studying the Bible and reading about Prophecy, fishing, watching the Dallas Cowboys, eating ice cream and tinkering around in the house and garage. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Scott and the Gideon's International.

Survivors include his wife, Johnnie, of the home in Fort Scott, Kan.; a daughter, Kathryn Kaplan and husband, Ron, Maitland, Fla.; a son, Michael Ragsdale, and wife, Sara, Newport, Wash.; and four grandsons, Ian Kaplan and Jacob, Matthew and Nicholas Ragsdale. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gary Ragsdale.

Rev. Tim Davish will conduct funeral services at 1:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 29, 2008, at the Cheney Witt

Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow in the U. S. National Cemetery with military honors provided by the Olson Frary Burkhart Post No.1165 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Services are under the direction of the Cheney Witt Memorial Chapel, 201 S. Main, Fort Scott, Kan.