AMAROA - George Dale (Curley) Ragland, 87, passed away Friday, March 1, 2013, in Marshall Browning Hospital in Du Quoin. He was born Feb. 11, 1926, in Tamaroa, the son of George Franklin Sr. and Ora Cockrum Ragland. He married F. Jean Plumlee July 3, 1949, in Piggott, Ark., 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 Perry County Farm Bureau. His family was very important to him. Mr. Ragland is survived by his wife, F. Jean Ragland of Tamaroa; children, Vickie (John) Hollis of Effingham, Karen (David) Harrison of Sesser, Greg (Nancy) Ragland of Tamaroa, and Nancy (George) Keith of Tamaroa; 11 grandchildren, Jason Ragland, Prudence (Bob) Kum-ming, Alyssa (Brian) Lewis, Johnny (Jessica) Hollis, Doug (Diana) Harrison, Jared (Erica) Hollis, Ashley (Isaac) Miller, Paige Ragland, Alexis Keith, Colin Keith, Jordan Ragland; and 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; sisters, Maxine Taylor, Elaine Noward, Imogene Anderson and Verdene Ragland. Services for Mr. Ragland will be at 1 p.m. Monday, March 4, in Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church in Sesser, with Pastor Larry Cook and Pastor John Hollis officiating. Burial will be in Paradise Cemetery in Tamaroa. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today and after 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday at Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Mr. Ragland's memory may be made to Mission Fund of the Bear Point Free Will Baptist Church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Morton and Johnston Funeral Home in Benton. Published in The Southern Illinoisan on March 3, 2013