Class of 1958
1958 Maroon Spotlight
Judy Dowell
Homeroom President 55-56; Band Queen Business Manager 55-56; Wrestling Queen Attendant 56-57; All School Revue 56-57; F.T.A. 56-57; Class Treasurer 56-57; Senior Play 57-58; Student Council Secretary 57-58: F.T.A. Secretary 57-58; Junior Rotarian 57-58; Band Queen 57-58; Annual Staff 57-58; Band Secretary 57-58; Assemblies 55-58.
1958 Graduation EditionPerry Daily Journal
Mrs. Judy Dowell Gragert, 17, was born Oct. 23, 1940, in Seminole. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Dowell, 101 Delaware street. A resident of 811 Elm street, she is the wife of Billy Gragert. She has attended Tecumseh and Perry schools and likes shorthand as her favorite subject. She has served in the band, Future Teachers association, member of the office staff, yuearbook staff, and student council. Mrs. Gragert also has been band queen and was a wrestling queen attendant. She has been active in other class and school activities.
Judith Ann (Dowell) Gragert
October 23rd, 1940 – December 3rd, 2008
Judith Ann Gragert (Judy) went to her heavenly home on December 3rd, 2008 to be with her Lord & Savior.
Born on October 23rd, 1940, in Seminole, Oklahoma, she was the daughter of Lloyd & Eva Dowell. She married her high school sweetheart Bill R. Gragert on April 23, 1958, in Perry, Oklahoma, and they spent 50 wonderful years together. She was a devoted loving wife and a proud mother.
Judy continually lived her life in the service of others; she was respected and admired by all who knew her. She was a teacher for the Choctaw-Nicoma Park School System for over 31 years. She taught for 25 years in the same 5th grade classroom and spent the last 6 years teaching in the gifted and talented program known as SEARCH. In regard to teaching, Judy is quoted as saying “teaching is impossible to describe. It is wonderful, frustrating, exhilarating, and exhausting… a JOY! I love the eager, enthusiastic look on a child’s face as learning takes place.” Judy was truly an outstanding teacher. She was intelligent, always knew her subject matter, and had the ability to let each child know that he/she was special. She touched her students hearts, gave them confidence and taught them well. She was loved by all who had contact with her and had the ability to make people confident and happy by just being in her presence. Judy loved her life, especially all things surrounding her family and her career.
She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by: her husband, Bill Gragert; her daughter, Ronda King and husband Jimmy; her son, Doug Gragert and wife Darla all of Choctaw/Nicoma Park; grandchildren(5), Jill Miller, Joey Miller and wife Sanza, Bradley Gragert, Sean Gragert, and Joshua Gragert; great-grandchildren(4), Steele, Isabella, Daezi & Joslyn. Judy is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Bill and Kathryn Benedict of Fresno, CA.
Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery, Choctaw, Oklahoma.