Mary Helen Ragland , age 95, passed away Monday, December 28th, 2020 at Jefferson Gardens Assisted Living in Clinton, Missouri. Funeral service will be held Monday, January 4th, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the First Baptist Church, Clinton, Missouri with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Vansant Road Cemetery, Clinton, Missouri. Fond memories and condolences may be left at www.vansant-millsfuneralhome.com.

Mary Helen was born October 12, 1925 in Windsor, Missouri to the parents of Jonathan Wellington and Mary Francis Bradley. She lived in Calhoun, Missouri and attended Pleasant View grade school and Calhoun High School.

She married William Burel Ragland of Clinton, Missouri on June 2, 1946 after Bill returned home from serving in the Marine Air Corp during World War II. They were married for 74 years.

Mary Helen taught school for 29 years. In 1943 at the age of 17 she taught all 8 grades at Pleasant View grade school. After moving to Clinton in 1956 she began teaching at Land school all 8 grades. In 1964 she went back to college during the summers at Central Missouri State receiving a Bachelors of Science degree in Education and a Masters of Science in Education in 1967. She then taught 3 ^rd and 4 ^th grades at Davis R-12 in 1964-65, second grade at Deepwater 1965-66 and the next year taught remedial reading for grades 2-12. She then taught 1 ^st grade in Clinton School District from 1967-1989 where she retired.

Mary Helen served as an Ombudsman for Westwood Nursing Home from 1990-1998, assisted in starting a jail ministry for women in the Centerview Prison 2007-2010. She has been an active member of First Baptist Church of Clinton 1969-2020. She was a regular of the Ladies Auxiliary of Gideons International 1993-2020. She was also a member of the Ladies Aids, Shawnee Mound, MO.

Mary Helen was an avid gardener and was known for her tomatoes.

Mary Helen is survived by her husband, 5 children Janice Ragland of Liberty, Missouri, Nancy Ragland of Louisville, Kentucky, Bill Ragland (Linda) of Tunas, Missouri, Darrel Ragland (Val) of Hastings, Nebraska, Roy Ragland (Chris) of Liberty, Missouri. Ten grandchildren, Jon Ragland of Springfield, Missouri, Ashley Ragland of Fair Grove, Missouri, Stanton Ragland of Liberty, Missouri, Garrett Ragland of Nashville Tennessee, Alison Joyce of San Francisco, California, Abby Stoddard of Hastings, Nebraska, and Andrew Huber of Omaha, Nebraska, Culley Creach (Colette) of Linn Creek, Missouri, Rebecca Wells of Springfield, Missouri, and Marlena Wells of Manor, Texas; and 25 great grandchildren.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home.