Eugene "Gene" Marcus Ragland

Eugene Marcus Ragland of Boise died April 6th, 2018, in a local nursing home. The funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 14th at 1 p.m. at the Cloverdale Funeral Home, 1200 N. Cloverdale Rd, Boise.
Gene was born on May 19th, 1935, in Gillette, Wyoming to Helen and Floyd Ragland. He was the eldest of six children. Siblings were Francis, George, Don, Claudia, and Jerry. He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings and is survived by his youngest brother, Jerry Coatney, of Boise. He came to Boise as a young man and considered this area home.
Gene is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret. Gene joined the military at the young age of 17 (he fudged about his age) and his first overseas assignment took him to RAF Sculthorpe, England, where he met and married Margaret.
Gene very proudly served in the U.S. Air Force for 26 years as an airplane mechanic initially and then transitioning into the medical administration corps. His duty assignments took him to Amarillo, TX, California, Maine, England, Mountain Home, Thailand, Germany, and to Del Rio, Texas, where he eventually retired and he and Margaret moved back to Boise in 1978 and have resided locally since. Gene loved the military, it was a large part of his life, and he was recently active in the local VFW. After his military retirement he worked for many years at the 20th Century Bowling Lanes here in Boise.
Gene was the proud and loving father to seven children, who all survive him and who consider themselves very fortunate to have had him in their lives. His children are Janet, Wayne (Carolyn), Suzanne (Jeff), Deborah (Ruben), Cheryl (Glen), Deanne (Rick), and Crystal, and 14 grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren, and extended family in England. He will leave a big hole in all our hearts and lives, and we will always miss his smile, love, hugs, humor, and raising us all to be free from prejudices as well as teaching us all to be accountable for our own actions.
Gene was a people person and will always be remembered for his huge smile and his good heart. He was funny, smart, and kind, and generous to a fault. He was an avid bowler for many years and received many awards and trophies. He loved reading, especially his science fiction books, had a keen intellect, loving the pursuit of knowledge. But he also enjoyed puttering out in his “man cave” and had many home projects that he enjoyed working on. One of his fondest dreams had always been to open his own restaurant and he just loved to try out new recipes and cook in “Mom’s” kitchen. He avidly followed politics and many times could be heard talking back to the TV talking heads or engaging in lively political discussion with friends and family.
Gene loved his family and his wife with all his heart and soul. His influence and life will always be remembered and talked about, with his memory living on in those that he loved and that loved him. Truly gone, but never forgotten.