Mary Irene Rager
December 27, 2016 at 4:51 p.m.
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AKRON — Mary Irene Rager, 97, formerly of rural Akron, passed away Dec. 25, 2016, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, where she had resided for six years.
She was born Aug. 24, 1919, in her Grandmother Arter’s house near Akron, to Dewey and Gladys Arter Merley.
As a young girl she learned a strong work ethic by delivering newspapers in Akron and later helping her mother cook for lumberjacks in Michigan.
Attending Akron schools for 12 years, she graduated third in her class. She married her high school sweetheart, Verl Wesley Rager, at the home of the Rev. Daniel Slaybaugh on Dec. 24, 1937. He died Sept. 27, 2006.
As a stay-at-home mom, she kept herself busy reading, sewing and knitting sweaters for family members. She belonged to the Stringtown Club, Bunco Club and Ruth Circle; taught Sunday school; and was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
When her four children were in school, she worked at A&P, sewed casket linings and worked at Heckman Bindery in North Manchester, from which she retired. She also found time to be a regular blood donor, work for the census bureau and work election days, and was a Girl Scout leader, a Boy Scout den mother and an avid Purdue basketball fan.
Survivors include a daughter, Laura Reese, Akron; two sons, Eldon (wife Jenean) Rager, North Manchester, and Philip (wife Sue) Rager, Portland; grandchildren: David Rice, Hartford City; Melissa (spouse Aaron) Walt, North Manchester; Kelli (spouse Chris) Hooks, Rochester; Christopher (spouse Heather) Rager, New Haven; Stephanie (spouse Keith) Winchester, Fairmount; Michael (spouse Mary) Rager, Fishers; Steven (spouse Rachelle) Reese, Rochester; Ryan (spouse Lindsey) Reese, Rochester; Shari (spouse Craig) Durkes, Akron; and Scott Reese, Akron; 17 great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Catherine Merley; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her parents; husband; a daughter, Verla Jean Rice; two sons-in-law, Darrell Rice and Calvin Reese; a granddaughter, Bonnie Jean Rice; and a brother, William Merley.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Rev. Phil Pratt and the Rev. Junior Bose officiating. Burial will be in Akron Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron.
*****
Memorials to Kindred Hospice or Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Share a memory or send a condolence at www.
hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
AKRON — Mary Irene Rager, 97, formerly of rural Akron, passed away Dec. 25, 2016, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester, where she had resided for six years.
She was born Aug. 24, 1919, in her Grandmother Arter’s house near Akron, to Dewey and Gladys Arter Merley.
As a young girl she learned a strong work ethic by delivering newspapers in Akron and later helping her mother cook for lumberjacks in Michigan.
Attending Akron schools for 12 years, she graduated third in her class. She married her high school sweetheart, Verl Wesley Rager, at the home of the Rev. Daniel Slaybaugh on Dec. 24, 1937. He died Sept. 27, 2006.
As a stay-at-home mom, she kept herself busy reading, sewing and knitting sweaters for family members. She belonged to the Stringtown Club, Bunco Club and Ruth Circle; taught Sunday school; and was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
When her four children were in school, she worked at A&P, sewed casket linings and worked at Heckman Bindery in North Manchester, from which she retired. She also found time to be a regular blood donor, work for the census bureau and work election days, and was a Girl Scout leader, a Boy Scout den mother and an avid Purdue basketball fan.
Survivors include a daughter, Laura Reese, Akron; two sons, Eldon (wife Jenean) Rager, North Manchester, and Philip (wife Sue) Rager, Portland; grandchildren: David Rice, Hartford City; Melissa (spouse Aaron) Walt, North Manchester; Kelli (spouse Chris) Hooks, Rochester; Christopher (spouse Heather) Rager, New Haven; Stephanie (spouse Keith) Winchester, Fairmount; Michael (spouse Mary) Rager, Fishers; Steven (spouse Rachelle) Reese, Rochester; Ryan (spouse Lindsey) Reese, Rochester; Shari (spouse Craig) Durkes, Akron; and Scott Reese, Akron; 17 great-grandchildren; four stepgreat-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Catherine Merley; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded by her parents; husband; a daughter, Verla Jean Rice; two sons-in-law, Darrell Rice and Calvin Reese; a granddaughter, Bonnie Jean Rice; and a brother, William Merley.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Hartzler Funeral Home, 305 W. Rochester St., Akron, with Rev. Phil Pratt and the Rev. Junior Bose officiating. Burial will be in Akron Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Hartzler Funeral Home, Akron.
*****
Memorials to Kindred Hospice or Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Share a memory or send a condolence at www.
hartzlerfuneralservices.com.
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