Dorris Ragsdale , 93, formerly of Centralia, Illinois, and currently of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away on March 25 with her daughter at her side at Chestnut House at Asbury Place in Maryville.

Mrs. Ragsdale was born on September 11, 1926, in Hurst, Illinois. She was the daughter of Bessie (Biggs) Bantel and Ernest Bantel. She married Gilbert Ragsdale on August 15, 1953, in Springfield, Illinois. He died in 1969.

A 1944 graduate of Murphysboro (Illinois) High School, Mrs. Ragsdale received her bachelor's degree in education in 1948 from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She received her master's degree in 1984 from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Mrs. Ragsdale taught school in Illinois for 36 years. She spent the first 15 years as a physical education/home economics teacher and the last 21 years as an elementary special education teacher. She retired in 1989.

She was fortunate to have enjoyed a long, active retirement. She took numerous bus trips and cruises and spent time visiting her daughter at the various places she lived and worked in Illinois, Oregon, New Orleans, and Tennessee. For years, Mrs. Ragsdale enjoyed tending her vegetable and flower gardens. She loved sitting on her back patio in Centralia, visiting with her neighbors, and going out to eat with her friends. She was an avid sports fan (especially her St. Louis Cardinals, the Vols, and the Lady Vols) and spent hours watching basketball, baseball, and football games on TV. She loved to read, do word puzzles, and play cards, dominoes, and Bingo.

In 2012, Mrs. Ragsdale moved to Maryville, Tennessee, to be near her daughter, Amy, and her family. Although she missed her home and friends in Centralia, she loved watching her grandchildren grow up and visiting with her granddogs. She also enjoyed drives through Cades Cove and along Foothills Parkway.

Mrs. Ragsdale lived in Morning View Assisted Living Center in Maryville, Tennessee, until November 2019, when she moved to nearby Chestnut House at Asbury Place nursing home. The family would like to thank the staff of those two facilities, as well as Avalon Hospice, for their dedicated care and loving support.

Even after moving to Tennessee, Mrs. Ragsdale remained a member of Centralia First United Methodist Church and its Cora Kohl Circle. She enjoyed receiving letters and the goodie bags from the church "Bag Ladies" outreach group throughout her time in Tennessee. Anyone who wishes is encouraged to make a gift to the church at 103 S. Elm Street, Centralia, Illinois 62801, to support these ministries.

She is survived by her daughter, Amy Ragsdale Blakely, and her son-in-law, Robert M. Blakely IV, and their children, Svetlana Grace Blakely and Lucas Vitaly Blakely, all of Maryville, Tennessee. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews and many dear friends in Illinois and Tennessee.

In addition to her husband and her parents, Mrs. Ragsdale was preceded in death by her twin brother, Morris Bantel; her other brothers, George, Robert, and Ray Bantel; her sisters, Fay Williams and Helen Jenkins. She was also preceded in death by her in-laws, Corum and Maude Ragsdale; her brother-in-law Warren Ragsdale, and his wife, Bernice; and her sister-in-law, Iris Lipe, and her husband, Charles.

Mrs. Ragsdale will be buried next to her husband and near other members of her family in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Murphysboro, Illinois. Irvin Macz Funeral Home in Centralia is in charge of arrangements.

A graveside service and a celebration of her life will be held at a later date, when it is once again safe for everyone to gather.