On May 3, 2022, Peggy Ann Ragland passed while being cared for by her daughter Linda Little in Florissant, Missouri. Peggy will be remembered for her generosity and for her volunteerism in her church, her community, and for wildlife conservation.

Peggy was born September 17, 1936, in San Francisco, California, in the French Hospital. She was the only child of Margie Dunn Scoles and Lester F. Scoles.

After her parents divorced when she was a child, she and her mother lived with her grandparents, C.C. and Bessie Dunn, in Urich, Missouri. Margie married Roy Gilbert Kinyon on April 27, 1944, at which time they moved to a farm north of Clinton, Missouri.

Peggy recalled, "As a small child; I remember the spring and summer grandpa was ill before he died. I spent a lot of time keeping him company. He had a birdhouse in his back yard, and we would sit for hours watching a little house wren build her nest and then later watched as her baby birds learned to fly and leave the nest. To this day," she continued, "when a house wren builds a nest in my birdhouse, I remember that special time spent with my grandpa as his 'Little Jenny Wren' and how much we loved each other."

Peggy attended first, second, and third grades at Hamilton Elementary School, grades four through six at Franklin Elementary School, and grades nine through twelve at Clinton High School. Her mother Margie was her third-grade teacher.

After meeting at a political rally in Warrensburg, Missouri, Peggy married James M. Ragland on May 4, 1956. Afterward, they moved to Florissant, Missouri.

Peggy and Jim had two daughters, Debora Ann, born January 13, 1958, and Linda Sue, born July 11, 1960.

Peggy joined the United Methodist Church in 1956 in Clinton and attended St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Florissant. Peggy had many interests: gardening, handicrafts, reading, music, and feeding birds. She loved children and enjoyed serving as a room mother and volunteering in the classroom. Peggy was active in her church, teaching Sunday school for more than 20 years and serving on the church leadership team. In addition, she volunteered in the community as a Red Cross volunteer school nurse, with the Girl Scouts, as a counselor at Camp-A-Panda in Iowa, and on election day at the polls.

She and Jim volunteered for the Missouri Conservation Commission as Hunter Education Instructors. Peggy was named Hunter Educator of the Year for St. Louis in 1996.

Peggy was blessed to have an aunt, Madge Dunn of Urich, and an uncle, Chuck Scoles of Denver, Colorado.

Peggy is preceded in death by her husband, Jim Ragland. She is survived by daughter Debora Ann and Larry Buerk of Seattle, Washington; daughter Linda Sue and Jerry Little of Florissant; grandson Nico and Joy Little and great-granddaughters Savannah and Ramona of Wentzville, Missouri; grand-daughter Megan and Aaron Daut of Seattle, Washington. Finally, ten foreign exchange students called her their American grandmother.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at Vansant-Mills Funeral Home in Clinton with visitation from 10:00-11:00 AM prior to the service. Burial to follow in Englewood Cemetery in Clinton.

A celebration of life for Peggy and Jim Ragland will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Florissant, Missouri.

The family will appreciate memorial gifts to Peggy's favorite charities: St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 315 Graham Road, Florissant, MO 63031, and the Team Food Bank, 265 Saint Catherine Street, Florissant, MO 63031 or can be left in care of the funeral home.

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