Raymond Leon Askren, Sr., age 83, Springfield, passed away at 6:50 a.m., Thursday, October 30, 2014 in Missouri Veterans Home, Mt. Vernon, MO. Raymond was born in Indianapolis, IN on August 1, 1931. He graduated from Warren Central High in 1950 and married Ruth Griswold on May 25, 1954. Raymond accepted Christ as his personal savior at a Billy Graham crusade in Indianapolis, IN. In the early 1960's Ray and Ruth moved to Springfield MO to attend Baptist Bible College and establish the Bethel Baptist Church. In August of 1975 he established The Christian Foundation to serve the underprivileged of the community. He is currently a member of Dale Street Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; parents, Benjamen and Elizabeth Askren; a sister, Irene Curry and a brother, Ralph Askren. Raymond is survived by five children, Robyn Deckard, Springfield, MO, Rhonda Reilly (John), Taylor, MI, Raymond Askren, Jr. (Pam), Springfield, MO, Roberta Adams (Ron), Carleton, MI, Ralph Askren (Andrea), Strafford, MO, one brother, Floyd Askren, Indianapolis, IN. He was also a proud grandfather of seventeen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. When asked to describe him, some of his grandchildren used the words fun, patriotic, leader and proud of his family. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, November 3, 2014 in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.