Vivian Pate

Vivian Marie Pate, daughter of the late Martin and Ester Herrington Wilfong, was born in Puxico, Missouri on March 19, 1933, and passed away at the Puxico Nursing & Rehab Center in Puxico, Missouri on April 10, 2011, at the age of 78 years and 22 days. She had lived in the Cottage Hills and Dupo, Illinois for almost 50 years and returned to Puxico 20 years ago. She was an active member of the First General Baptist Church in Puxico, Missouri. She, along with her late husband, Oscar, organized God's Willing Workers in March of 1994, a group of senior citizens that meet monthly and helps financially with various community needs. She loved being outdoors and helping others. On July 5, 1949, she was married to Sylvester "Pete" Ragsdale. He preceded her in death on March 7, 1974. On September 23, 1974, she was married to Oscar Riley Pate in Dupo, Illinois. He preceded her in death on February 15, 2008. Surviving are two sons, Jimmy Ray Ragsdale of Branson, Missouri, Ronnie Paul Ragsdale of Willis, Texas; five grandchildren; one great grandchildren; two brothers, Donald and Gary Wilfong both of Puxico, Missouri; two sisters, Bertha Gates of Dexter, Missouri and Reva Cantrell of Puxico, Missouri. Other relatives and friends also survive. She was preceded in death by five brothers, Lester, Therman, Eugene, Claude and David Wilfong. Visitation will be Wednesday, April 13, 2011, after 10:00 AM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico, Missouri. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at 11:00 AM at the Watkins & Sons Funeral Home in Puxico with the Rev. Kenneth Lambert of Bloomfield, Missouri officiating. Interment will be in the Brown Cemetery near Puxico, Missouri with Watkins & Sons Funeral Service of Puxico in charge of arrangements.