Ray G Chasteen

Ray Chasteen was born on April 9, 1930, to Elvis and Bertha Chasteen in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. He was the third of five children and grew up in Mountain Grove, helping on the farm and enjoying life.

He attended Mountain Grove High School where he soon began to excel in sports. At one point in his football tenure, he scored the first touchdown in the newly built stadium. On Sept. 7, 2007, at the 60th year anniversary event, he was given a football and plaque inscribed with his accomplishment.

Ray went on to play college football at Missouri Valley College, where he played for four years as one of the running backs. He also excelled in track & field. He ran the quarter mile event, along with the quarter mile relay team. Many trophies and records were set during those years.

Upon his graduation, Ray enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp. He completed bootcamp at Camp Pendleton California, and continued from there to officer training at Quantico, Virginia. Ray rose to the rank of captain and served our country four years in that position.

During those years, Ray met and married Mary Ann Morris from Mountain Grove. They enjoyed life together for many years as they moved across the country following his career path. They eventually ended up back in Mountain Grove. They had two sons, John of Edmond, Oklahoma and Bobby of Mountain Grove. Mary Ann passed away in December of 1974.

Several years later, Ray met and married Mavis Bowers of Fordland, Missouri. Shortly thereafter, they purchased a farm and enjoyed over 25 years of farming and raising cattle. Ray and Mavis also enjoyed golf, travel, and time often spent at the lake. Mavis preceded Ray in death, passing away in November 2007.

His long business career included a two-year season of coaching and teaching high school at Ava, Missouri. He also had a lengthy career as a district representative with New Holland Farming Company, and of course over 40 years in the implement business here in Mountain Grove. Ray was a hard-working, honest and very giving man. He retired in 2009, at the age of 78.

Ray is survived by two siblings, Donald Chasteen of Springfield, Missouri and Sue Leighton of Mountain Grove, Missouri. Two sons, John Chasteen and his wife, Becky, of Edmond, Oklahoma and Bob Chasteen and his wife, Kim, of Mountain Grove. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, Amy Kempf, Andy Chasteen, Jon Chasteen, Amber Raney, Dustin Chasteen, Matt McMillen, Elizabeth Lewis and Erica Rodgers. He has 15 great grandchildren.