Lucille Pauline Bagley

Lucille P. Bagley died August 22, 2022 at Edencrest Green Meadows at the age of 91 due to complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Lucy was born at home on September 28, 1930 to Floyd and Elsie Grimes in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Lucy graduated from Fort Dodge High School in 1948 and was soon hired by Sunbeam Dairy as a Bookkeeper. It was there that she met her first husband, Hallet Monte Rathbun, who drove a dairy delivery truck. They married on November 21, 1951. Together they had three children: Monte, Sheree, and Mark.

In 1965, due to complications of her husband’s diabetes and loss of eyesight, they moved to Des Moines so he could attend the Iowa Commission for the Blind. There he entered a program that trained blind Iowans with job skills and independence. Monte was a good student and eventually ran the State House cafeteria.

Lucy worked at schools as a lunchroom attendant, and at Younkers as a cashier, but soon the Iowa Commission for the Blind hired her. There she assisted the students with aids and devices that helped them with daily life skills. Lucy’s boss once said, “Lucy has one speed, and that is fast-forward!” Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting her knows this to be true! After her husband Monte passed away in 1973, Lucy continued to be a valued employee at the Commission for the Blind until retirement in 1997.

Lucy’s second husband, Donald Bagley, had been a long-time family friend. In 1977, he timidly asked her out on a date, and soon after they were married. They then began to travel around the world, something they loved doing together. They took several cruises and trips to exotic places: South America, Hawaii, Greece, and Rome, to name a few. Lucy would often say she “barely got her bags unpacked and Don was planning another trip!” Lucy’s most enjoyable trips were as a delegate to several International Conventions of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Lucy was an active member of the Murray Hill and Grimes Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses for over 57 years. There she enjoyed many wonderful and close friendships.

Lucy was preceded in death by her first husband, Monte Rathbun, her second husband, Donald Bagley, her parents, Floyd and Elsie Grimes, brothers, Floyd Jr., David and a sister, Delores Folsom. She is survived by her son, Monte Rathbun (Lynn), daughter, Sheree May (Danny), son, Mark Rathbun (Becky), and nine grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held via ZOOM on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 2:00 pm. Please contact Mark Rathbun at email: [email protected] for more information. The family would like to extend a special thank you to both Edencrest of Green Meadows and Care Initiatives Hospice for the wonderful care and support of Lucy and her family. In lieu of flowers Lucy has requested donations be made to Jehovah’s Witnesses Worldwide Work at donate.JW.org.

Lucy had a very positive hope for the future highlighted in the scripture at Revelation 21:4, which says: “And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”