Portrait of Peggy Hooten. IMB Photo

Peggy Hooten, an International Mission Board missionary emeritus who shared the gospel in Kenya and Uganda, died Aug. 11, 2025. She was 93.  

Peggy was born Feb. 7, 1932, in Dallas, Texas, to the late A.L. Ratcliff and Johnnie Bell Ratcliff. She graduated from North Dallas High School and received the Bachelor of Arts from North Texas State College (now University of North Texas), Denton, and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth.  

While seeking missionary appointment Peggy wrote, “… during the summer after my freshman year in college, I felt the very definite call of the Lord toward some special work in His kingdom. While the choir and I were singing ‘Wherever He Leads I’ll Go,’ I was compelled to make public a decision that had been haunting me for months. I felt He would have me work toward preparing myself as a missionary.” 

During her second year of college, she met her future husband, Jimmie Hooten. She wrote, “I felt this, too, was a revelation of God’s will for my life because Jimmie was a preacher and mission volunteer for Africa.”  

Jimmie and Peggy graduated from college in May 1954 and left immediately as summer missionaries to Oregon and Washington with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board). In the fall, they moved to Fort Worth for Jimmie to enroll in seminary. Peggy worked as a stenographer while attending night classes at seminary. In May 1955, they began serving in the first of several pastorates while finishing seminary and awaiting missionary appointment.  

In 1961, the International Mission Board appointed Jimmie and Peggy missionaries to East Africa. They served in Kenya and Uganda. 

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Jimmie Dee Hooten.  

A funeral service was held Aug. 16 at Main Street Baptist Church in Georgetown, Texas.