Obituary

Funeral services for John Ragains, 68 of Plainview will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday September 13, 2013 in Bartley Memorial Chapel with Sidney Fallin officiating. Services are under the direction of Bartley Funeral Home. A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. John Ragains passed away at 7:55 p.m. Sunday September 8, 2013 in Plainview surrounded by his family. He was born on September 16, 1944 in Saint Frances Hospital in Peoria, Ill. to Orbie and Frances (Fawley) Ragains. He served in the U.S. Navy from August 1963 to September 1988 where he earned the National Defense Ribbon Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals as well as Meritorious and Presidential Unit Citations Good Conduct Medals, Battle Efficiency, and the Sea Service Ribbon. He retired as Chief Warrant Officer 4 as a Surface Ordinance Specialist. He also worked for Texas Instruments, Honeywell Optoelectronics and the Lubbock and Peoria School Districts. He was a member of A.F. & A.M. Illinois Masonic Lodge No. 263, American Legion, State of Texas, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Texas. He was also a member of Parkway Drive Baptist Church where he was the pianist for 8 years. He married Debra Gwen Askins at her parents home in Lubbock, Texas on August 1, 1992. He is survived by his wife; 3 Daughters, Johnna Cooper and husband Brian of Plainview, Jennifer R. Rizzo and husband Rob of California and Angela G. Miller and husband Brandon of Plainview; 2 Sons, Jerry G. Askins and wife Danielle of Plainview and Bentley O. Ragains and wife Amanda of Lubbock; 1 Brother, Alan Ragains and wife Rocco Sansome of Honolulu, Hawaii; 1 Sister, Sally Monroe of Peoria, Ill.; 6 Grandchildren and one on the way and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Orbie Ragains, his mother, Frances Ragains and a brother-in-law, Gary Monroe. Memorial donations may be made to Parkway Drive Baptist Church, Lubbock, TX or the Wounded Warrior Project.