Neumon Blen Ragins, or Blen as he was called all his life, came into this world on what we would like to think, was a beautiful fall day in October in Steele, Missouri.  He was the oldest child of his parents, Neumon Eugene Ragins and Freda Marie Bryant Ragins, both who have preceded him in death.  Blen, while small in stature, was a gentle giant by nature.  In writing this obituary, we are hoping not just to capture the statistics of his life but also the life this man, a true legend, led between the dash …

Over the last few hours since he was promoted to his heavenly home, the outpouring of sentiments about our dad have been overwhelming.  He impacted and poured into many, many lives in so many ways that we will never know them all.  He did everything in high gear.  He walked fast, had a quick wit, and was generous, smart, kind, loving and honest.  We've heard words like, "best boss," "mentor," "advisor," "friend" and many, many more.

Blen was the oldest of his 5 siblings and they all knew who was "boss."  Seriously though, he always took that responsibility of being the oldest to heart and tried to look out for them all.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Donnie Wimberley, his two brothers, Kerry and Terry Ragins and his nephew, Bernie Crider.  His heart was truly broken with each of these losses.  He is survived by his sister, Kay Gulley and husband Max of St. Louis, MO.

Blen was a true entrepreneur.  He owned a gas station on NN highway for many years, while also farming, selling cars and running a salvage yard.  He transitioned his focus eventually to just his car dealership.  To say he was a hard worker just does not give him justice.  He had a passion for cars and felt very fortunate to be able to spend his professional life doing what he loved.  He never quit working, in fact, he was only a few days ago commenting that his quarterly taxes were due next week!  He was no doubt a savvy business man.  He tried to teach all of us to be so as well.   We have a saying we use in our family we get a kick out of, "You can't win against Blen's pen."  He wanted us to work hard and appreciate the value of the dollar.

Blen loved his family fiercely.  He was the patriarch of what one niece said, is "572" family members.  That may be a slight exaggeration but we do have quite a "tribe"!  Blen blazed a trail in the 70s when he was raising his 3 children, as a single dad; such a rarity at the time.  As if that were not evidence enough of his loyalty to family, he then married his wife, Donna, in December of 1971 and brought her and her 5 children into the fold.  The two of them raised their 8 children together for a few years before deciding they needed one more to complete the family and had our baby sister!  (We're so glad they did, although it must have seemed they had lost their mind at the time).  There was never a dull moment at the Ragins' household during those years.  It was loud, crazy and gave us a multitude of happy memories!  Blen is leaving 9 children to survive him and carry on his legacy, Tammie Cannon and husband Leon of Gobler, MO, Ronda Looney, and husband Tim of Gobler, MO, Tena Dobbins and husband Dickie of Kennett, MO, Vicki White and husband Chuck of Gobler, MO, Keith Pierce and wife, Rhonda of Jonesboro, AR, Steve Ragins and Jennie of Jonesboro, AR, Crystal Pierce of Jonesboro, AR, Todd Pierce of Jonesboro, AR and Johnna Kaye Kratochvil and husband Keith of Frisco, TX.  These 9 have given he and Donna 20 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.

Finally, yet most importantly, Blen was a child of God.  He loved the Lord fiercely and had no doubt where he was going when he left this life.  He was 73 years old when he gave his heart to God and has lived the past 5 years serving his Lord faithfully.  He has ministered to all of his children, grandchildren and friends, sharing with them what God has done in his life.  If we've heard him say it once we've heard it 500 hundred times, "The good Lord has blessed me."  Even before he made his profession of faith, he has always given God the glory for any success he has had in life.  As his family, it's such a comfort to know that we will see him again someday.  He would want you all to know that "When the roll is called up yonder', he'll be there and he wants you to be there as well.