Kenneth (Ken) Lee Ragsdale

Kenneth (Ken) Lee Ragsdale, age 82 years and 11 months, of Center, left this earth peacefully on May 3, 2020. Private memorial services will be held at a later date.
Ken was born June 9, 1937 in Seymour, Webster County, Mo., the son of Ernest and Leta McCormack Ragsdale.
Preceding him were his parents, a brother, Virgil Eugene and two sisters, Nadine (Ragsdale) Rader and Leota Mae (Ragsdale) Davis.
Survivors include: sister, Flora Marie (Ragsdale) Phillips, his wife, Anita (Couch) Youngblood Ragsdale of Center, a daughter Kimberly Michelle (Ragsdale) Bookhout, son-in-law, Tom Bookhout and children,

Jennifer, Corey and Tamara of Wichita, KS. Extended families: Pam (Youngblood) Stuart, Benji Burton of Hannibal, Keith Stuart of Center, Kate Stuart and Forest Vance of Columbia, Kirk Youngblood and Rainie Gilmore of Hannibal, Paige Youngblood Mulligan and Will Mulligan and children Patrick and Evie Mulligan of Lake St. Louis. Friends: Larry and Roberta Mottesheard of Paola (Larry and Ken worked

together for over thirty years and shared the hobby of quail hunting). Lynda and Al Conway of Oregon City, OR (Lynda and Ken shared the love of horse showing for over thirty years) and many other lifelong friends.
Ken was baptized at Marshfield Christian Church and later changed membership to Overland Park Christian Church in Kansas. He was a 1954 graduate of Marshfied High School. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1955 and received his training at Keel United States Naval Center in Great Lakes, IL. He served in Company 73, 12th Regiment, 123 Battalion, serving on the USS Lake Champlain. He returned to Kansas where he was married to Lois Pierce from 1958 to 1971 and to this union a daughter was born, Kimberly Michelle. He attended Barber College, opening his own shop in Overland Park, KS from 1961 to 2004. Ken loved hunting, boating and horses until his health limited his activities. Ken retired in 2004 and moved to Center. He married his soulmate, Anita on January 17, 2004 in Center. Ken was a lifetime member of the Missouri Foxtrotting Horse Breed Association, where he took special pride in showing and winning many World Championships at Ava, MO. He was a member of Kansas City Regional Foxtrotting Association and served as President several years and served as a mentor to many who enjoyed foxtrotting horses. He was a lifetime member of the Overland Park V.F. W. and attended Masonic Lodge 436. He was also a charter member of local N.E.M.O. Gaited Horse Club.

In later years trail riding became his enjoyment, while traveling over Missouri, Illinois, Tennesse, Alabama and Kentucky. Ken will always be remembered for his short..... (mostly long) stories.
Cremation rites were accorded under the direction of Bienhoff Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Center Baptist Church, Center, MO 63436 or MFTHBA, National Youth Program in Ava, MO 65608 or Community Loving Care Hospice in Bowling Green, MO 63334.