Betty Gracy

Betty Louise Ragsdale Gracy went to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 21, 2013. She passed away peacefully in her son's home with her loving family beside her. Betty was born on Nov. 8, 1924, in Rogers, Ark. She was the oldest of three children of Frank A. and Irene P. Ragsdale. Except for a brief time in Pocahontas, Ark., Betty lived her entire life in Rogers. Betty was married to Jack Stanley Gracy on Oct. 17, 1942, shortly before Jack left for the European Theatre in World War II. Betty and Jack had one son, Terry Gracy, born in 1952. Betty owned and operated the Wood Insurance Agency of Rogers, Ark., for over 30 years. Betty was the first woman agency owner and agent for the Continental Insurance Company, planted within the state of Arkansas. She was one of only two special commercial agents appointed by Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Company in the state at that time. Betty served as a board member in the state of Arkansas Insurance Agents Association for two years. Betty was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for 25 years. During that time she served as president and treasurer in the Beta Chapter. Betty served as the president on the Rogers Beta Sigma Phi city council for several years. She was named "Girl of the Year" in 1962. Betty also served as an officer on the Southside Elementary School PTA for six years. Betty always played an active role with various Rogers organizations throughout the years, dedicating many, many days and nights at football, basketball and baseball games, supporting Jack and Terry and their teams. Her "extended" family included a host of players throughout the 60-plus years that she followed the various teams. She was an active member of the Southside Church of Christ for many years. Betty was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Gracy in 2007; her parents; a brother, John William Ragsdale; a sister, Peggy Ann Ragsdale; and niece, Pamela Jones Barnhart. She leaves behind a son, Terry Gracy and his wife, Linda Leflett Gracy, of Rogers; two grandchildren, Meagan Gracy and her fiancé, Joey Hurt, of Rogers, and Trevor Gracy and his wife, Kimberly Mills Gracy, of Gentry; sister, Mary Sue Ragsdale Jones of Portland, Ore.; a sister–in-law, Anita Ragsdale and husband, Bill Addington, of Maumelle; a sister-in-law, Shirley Gracy Moffitt of Stockton, Mo.; and nieces and nephews, including Randy M. and his wife, Diana Young Ragsdale, and their children, Rachel Ragsdale Racop and her husband, Ryan Racop, and William Ragsdale, all of Little Rock, Ark., Carlene Moffitt Shrum of Littleton, Colo., Linda Kay Moffitt Hall of Stockton, Mo., Paul Jones Hill, John L. Jones, David Jones, all of Portland, Ore.; and other nieces and nephews and extended family. A funeral service will be Thursday, April 25, 2013, at 11 a.m. in Rollins Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Benton County Memorial Park. Her visitation will be held Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. Online memorials can be made at www.rollinsfuneral.com.