James "Jim" Ragland, age 90, passed away Tuesday, January 26th, 2021 on his 90th birthday, surrounded by his family at home in Florissant, Missouri.  Funeral service will be held Friday, March 5th, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Vansant-Mills Chapel in Clinton, Missouri with visitation one hour prior to the service. F ollowed by a Marine military burial at Englewood Cemetery i n Clinton, Missouri. A Celebration of Life will be held in St. Louis at a future date. He will be remembered as a teacher, farmer, and wildlife conservationist.

The family would appreciate donations to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 315 Graham Road, Florissant, MO 63031, and the Team Food Bank , 265 Saint Catherine Street, Florissant, MO 63031.

Fond memories and condolences can be left online at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com

JAMES MADISON RAGLAND Husband, Father, Grandfather, Farmer, Marine, Teacher, Conservationist, and Community Activist.

During the Great Depression on January 26, 1931, Jim was born in Montrose, Missouri. His parents, James Baker Ragland and Eva Fern (Ohare) Ragland were modest farmers in Deepwater.

Jim was a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1953, he was assigned to the 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, H&S Company, and stationed in Japan.

Upon discharge from the Marines, Jim attended Central Missouri State College in Warrensburg, Mo., graduating in 1956 with a B.S. in Education. In 1963, he earned a Master's in Education, majoring in chemistry and physics. Jim taught at Normandy Junior and Senior High Schools from 1956-1983. In 1961, he was the first chemistry lab instructor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Jim had come a long way from teaching in a one-room schoolhouse: the Walnut Valley Rural School near Lakeview Heights, Mo.

He met the love of his life, Peggy Ann Kinyon of Clinton, Mo., at a Democrat political rally. They married on May 4, 1956, in Clinton and moved to St. Louis.

Jim served many years at several Missouri Boy Scouts camps as an instructor. He served on the board of directors for Heritage House, a retirement community for school teachers. He was also active with the National Education Association and the Missouri NEA.

In his retirement, Jim was a wildlife conservationist active with numerous national organizations. He taught hunter safety through the Missouri Department of Conservation for 30 years. For many years, he organized St. Louis area instructors to help young people fish at the St. Louis Boat and Sportshow trout pond.

Jim received many awards for his professional work and voluntarism. In 1995, he received the Missouri Hunter Education Instructor of the Year award. In 2015 Jim was honored with the International Hunter Education Instructor of the Year Award. However, the award Jim was most proud of came from the Future Farmers of America in 1943 and 1944 for his notebook entitled, "How Our Farm Can Help Win the War." Jim received the first-place cash award of $5.00. His prize-winning notebook was sent to Washington, D.C and to multiple countries in South America.

He enjoyed reading, traveling with his wife, Mizzou football, hunting, family history, and volunteering for his church and community. Jim was a quiet man. He valued his family and friendships.

Jim is survived by his wife, Peggy Ann (née Kinyon) Ragland of Florissant; daughter Debora Ann (née Ragland) and Larry Buerk of Seattle, Washington; daughter Linda Sue ((née Ragland) and Jerry Little of Florissant; grandson Nicolas and Joy Little and great-granddaughters Savannah and Ramona of Wentzville, grand-daughter Megan and Aaron Daut of Seattle, Washington; and grand-dog Clyde.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Vansant-Mills Funeral Home Clinton, Missouri.