Marie Rager

Mattie “Marie” Rager, 94, of Moody, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family on Friday, February 23rd, 2018 after suffering from a severe stroke and spending a short time at Providence Hospice Place. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday, February 26, at Waco Memorial Park with Dr. Tom Shelton officiating. Visitation will be 5 - 7 p.m. Sunday, February 25, at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Dr., Waco, Texas.

Marie was born in Lorena, Texas on October 24, 1923 to Jones Oscar Young and Martha Etta Crider Young. She was one of ten children and as a young girl helped care for her younger siblings. She went to school at Riesel in her younger years. Marie took part in the National Youth Administration to train for power sewing machine operation. After two weeks training, she went to Douglas Company to build tents for the army and later worked in sewing factories.

On January 17, 1948 Marie married Luther Annious Rager. Together they had five children, one son and four daughters. While she took care of her children and her husband, she was also a bookkeeper and an office manager for L.A.’s businesses. In their spare time, L.A. and Marie road a Honda motorcycle and toured all over the country for about ten years.

Marie retired in 1984 and enjoyed many hobbies such has gardening, arts and crafts, sewing and quilting, reading, watching old classic movies, and listening to the oldies and blues music. Marie loved beautiful clothes, fine dining, and good home cooking. She especially enjoyed sharing her talents with her beloved family and grandchildren.

Marie is preceded in death by her parents, Jones Oscar and Martha Etta Crider Young; husband, LA Rager; son, Bud Rager; step-daughter, Gilda Reed; siblings, Dave Young, Opal Schrader, Mary Young, Joe Young, Bill Young, Simon Young, Walter Young, Jean McCurdy, and Shirley Redden.

Left to cherish her memories are daughters, Kathy and Ronny Foit of Chalk Bluff, Debbie and Bill Spivey of Moody, Lorrie and Roy Lee Metcalf of Big Springs, and Sherry and Fred McDowell of Gatesville; 14 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; special friend, Rachel Herrald and her children, Adam and Anna.

The family would like to thank the exceptional staff at Providence Hospice Place in Waco—Donny, Shautese, Rebecca, Tracy, Leah, LeeAnn, Sherry, Latonia, Megan, Kristina, and Steve.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Moody, 300 Avenue E, Moody, TX 76557.