Virgil Ray Howser, age 76, of Dixon, was born on December 24, 1949, at Dixon, a son of Alston Edward Howser and Bernadine Katherine (Clark) Howser and passed from this life on Thursday evening, January 29, 2026, at the Lake Regional Hospital, Osage Beach.

Ray worked for Gascosage Electric Cooperative from 1984 for 33 years, retiring in 2017. While at the Co-op, he worked for the right of way crew, as a lineman, meter reader and other positions as needed. In his early years, he enjoyed fishing, deer hunting and jeep racing. He was a lifelong fan of westerns. He had been a member of the Kickapoo Trace Muzzleloaders and the Big Piney Mud Rats Jeep Club.

Those left to mourn the passing of Ray include: his two sons, Matt Howser (Sherri) of Dixon and Frankie Howser, of Castle Rock, Colorado; the mother of his children, Georgette Makras; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alston Edward Howser on December 5, 1970; his mother, Bernadine Katherine (Clark) Howser on June 2, 2017 and one brother, Charles Thomas Howser on September 1, 1973.

Visitation will be held for Ray from 11 a.m. until the time of his service at 1 p.m., all on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, in the Martin-Kloeppel Funeral Chapel, Dixon, with Pastor Don Arthur, Rolla, officiating.

Interment will be in the Freedom Cemetery near Dixon under the direction of the Martin-Kloeppel Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Dixon. Pallbearers for Ray will be Mike Allen, Larry Prater, Tony Martin, Shawn Lipscomb, Derek Otto and Aaron George. Honorary pallbearers are Mike Jones, Danny Cerde, Craig Rivera, Jimmy Clark and Scott Rea.

Memorial contributions are suggested per the wishes of the family with envelopes available at the funeral home or in care of Martin-Kloeppel Funeral Home, P.O. Box GG, Dixon, MO 65459