Margaret Ryals

Margaret Ryals
Dec. 29, 1934 – June 5, 2022
Margaret Miller Ryals, 87, of Bogalusa, died June 5, 2022.
Funeral services were June 12, 2022, at Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home in Bogalusa, graveside services at New Zion Cemetery.
Mrs. Ryals was born Dec. 29, 1934, in Meridian, to Charles Virgil Miller and Daisy Hamacher Miller. She grew up in Quitman, where she graduated from Quitman High School. Following graduation, she attended Mississippi College where she met and married Bill Ryals in 1954. She went on to receive her bachelor of arts in education at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.
Upon returning home to Bogalusa, she was greatly involved in the community. She attended First Baptist, where she taught the Pre-K Sunday school class, Vacation Bible School and was a member of the Flower Committee for many years. She served her community through various leadership roles in the Civic League, YWCA Board, Magic City Garden Club Counsel, Museum of Cassidy Park Board and Washington Parish Fair Assn. board. Margaret held many offices as a member of the Oushola Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. She was an active member of the Roogaroo and GG Carnival Group which she enjoyed for many years.
Professionally, Mrs. Ryals spent her 38-year career protecting children in her role with the Louisiana Office of Community Service in Washington Parish. She was involved with her children’s school activities, led organizations such as Camp Fire Girls, transported them to dance lessons as well as team sports activities. She grew and arranged flowers for all occasions. Margaret enjoyed spending time with her Bogalusa Garden Guild family. Her long-standing floral talents were publicly recognized recently, and she was awarded the Circle of Roses Pin presented to her from The Louisiana Garden Club Federation. She had a good knowledge of horticulture and landscaped the Washington Parish Library, planted trees at the YWCA and on Willis Avenue, and maintained a garden site on Louisiana Avenue at the entrance to the city. She tirelessly sought every opportunity to beautify Bogalusa.
Survivors include her husband of 67 years, Bill Ryals, Sr.; four children;, Suzanne (Eugene) Cutrer of Osyka, Bill Jr. (Niki) Ryals of Tylertown, Jackie (Robert) Boone of Angie, and Dr. Amanda (Joey) Prud’homme of Fort Worth, TX.; grandchildren, Tyler Cutrer, Katie Cutrer Petty, Blake Ryals, Amber Ryals Carpenter, Jessica Ryals Bacot, Hope Ryals Roberts, Reagan Boone Smith, Amanda Boone Fowler, Blaire Boone, John Robert Boone, Morgan Boone Varnado, Joseph Prud’homme, Emily Prud’homme; 21 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Blake Ryals, John Robert Boone, Joseph Prud’homme, Tyler Cutrer, Drew Varnado, Kyle Smith, Dustin Fowler, and Billy Carpenter.
Honorary pallbearers were Wes Roberts, Tyler Bacot, James Petty, Lincoln Thompson and the Deacons of First Baptist Church of Bogalusa.
Poole-Ritchie Funeral Home in Bogalusa was in charge of the arrangements. To view and sign the guestbook go to pooleritchiefuneralhome.com