Gary Wayne Ragar, 80, of The Dalles, OR, passed away on June 13, 2024, at his home under hospice care. His wife, Brenda, was at his side at the time of his passing.
Gary was born in Green Ridge, MO, to Roy and Amelia Shaw Ragar. He was the youngest in a family of 5 children. He had 2 sisters, Marge Myers & Jean Nace and 2 brothers Lee Roy Ragar and Billy Ragar.
He graduated from Camdenton, Missouri, High School in 1961 and joined the Navy shortly after. While in the Navy he learned welding and served on the USS Hector, a repair ship, from 1961 to 1965. After leaving the service, he used his knowledge of welding to launch his professional career that included sales, management, and business ownership in Kansas and Missouri.
He married Brenda Varner in 1962, and they moved from Long Beach, California, to Missouri in 1965. They raised two daughters, Cheryl and Angela, and had one son, Darren Lee Ragar, who died at birth.
Gary is survived by his wife of 62 years, Brenda, his oldest daughter, Cheryl Ragar and husband, Joseph Kosarek of The Dalles, youngest daughter, Angela Krause and husband, Chad Krause of The Dalles. He is also survived by his brother, Lee Roy Ragar (Allene) and his sister, Jean Nace (Ryland). Gary leaves two grandchildren, Emily (Matt) Serafin, and Alex (Heather) Kessler, as well as six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Marge Myers, and his brother, Billy Ragar.
A memorial service for family and friends of Gary will be held in the Midwest, where he lived most of his life. The service will be held at West Side Event Space, at 101 SW 12th Street, in Oak Grove, Missouri, on Saturday, August 3, 2024, starting at 1:30 in the afternoon. The family will be present to welcome all.
