George Dragisic

On Saturday, January 30, 2016, George Dragisic passed away after a full and prosperous life at the age of 96 years young. The celebration of George’s life will begin with the family receiving visitors at Rader Funeral Home on Friday, February 5, 2016, from 6-8 PM. On Saturday, February 6, a rosary will begin at 10:30 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Services will begin immediately following at 11:00 AM with Fr. Guillermo Gabriel and Fr. Mike Maxwell officiating. There will be no graveside services. Friends are invited to gather with the family immediately after the service for lunch and fellowship at the Shopka Activity Center located near the church. George was born on January 8, 1920, in Chicago, Illinois, to Mara (Mary) Badovinac and Jovan (Joseph) Dragisic¬¬¬¬¬ who both immigrated to the United States from Croatia, George was preceded in death by his parents, his son Michael Dragisic, his wife and the mother of his children, Barbara Nelson Dragisic; his brother, Joseph Dragisic, his sister Ella Dragisic Vlasaty; his niece, Carol Dragisic Mraz; and his lifelong love, Geneva Peteet. In June 1942 he joined the Army and was stationed in Lonview, Texas at Harmon General Hospital, until he received an Honorable Discharge in 1946 with honors George received his Pharmacology degree at University of Houston. He owned and operated Ballard Drug downtown before buying Longview Drug in 1964 and served several generations of families, often being referred to as Dr. Dragisic. His coffee club there included doctors, judges, lawyers, bankers, realtors and mayors, that solved world problems. He closed his store in 1986 and then worked at Louis Morgan Drug #1 for several years with his dear friend Mike Pemberton. He finally went into full-time retirement on his 90th birthday as the second-oldest licensed pharmacist inTexas. Everyone that provided care for him over the past two years quickly learned to love his quick wit and dry humor. A special thanks to the management and care partners at Fountainview Estates that went above and beyond to make sure George received exceptional care; Carlette (Cece) Yett who assisted George at home before his move; and special friends and fellow church members, Doug and Mary Schroer, who were our angels here on earth, loving George they way we did. Surviving George are his son and daughter-in-love, Robert and Cindy Dragisic of Longview, Texas; Robert’s son, Cody Nelson and his wife Amber and their children Kaden & Emma of Bridge City, Texas; Cindy’s children – daughter, Lindsey Reynolds Poenisch, husband Robbie and their children Chloe and Blane of Taft, Texas; her son, Brant Day and Cheyenne Smith of Nacogdoches, Texas; Geneva’s daughter, who he loved as his own, Beth Ann Peteet Dillard and husband Taylor, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Benjamin Dillard, his wife Emily and their children Maddie and Judah of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Rachel Dillard Moore, her husband Randal and their children Lillian and Lucas of Ft. Worth Texas. George is also survived by his sister Ella’s sons – nephews, Dave Vlasaty and wife Karen of Paw Paw, Illinois, and Joey Vlasaty and wife Joyce of The Villages, Florida; his brother Joseph’s daughter, niece, Joanne Dragisic Raczkiewicz and husband Lou Cortese, of Lisle, Illinois. Also left to cherish his memory are a host of great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews and great-great-great nieces and nephews.

George Dragisic

January 8, 1920 - January 30, 2016