Mary Ragsdale

Mary Louise Ragsdale went to be with her Savior on April 29, 2019.  She joins her husband and sweetheart, David Welch Ragsdale.  “Mimi” was born on April 1, 1922, in Purcell, Oklahoma.  She was one of the greatest of the Greatest Generation.  She grew up during the depression, attended as much business college as she could afford, and married her sweetheart on December 25, 1941, after the Pearl Harbor attack.  She waited for “Rags” to return from WWII, where he served in the US Navy.  She was a stay at home mom until her two daughters started to school, when she went to work full time as a secretary.  During her career she worked at NASA in Houston, TX, as well as the Atomic Energy Commission in Chicago, IL. During her career years she made most of the clothes her daughters wore, as well as clothes for herself and sport shirts for Rags.  All on a treadle sewing machine her mother had given her.

As a widow in her 70’s she took up hiking and bicycling.  She led a group on a back-packing hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon when she was 70.  She joined a travel group who rode bicycles for two weeks every summer through a different European country. She also volunteered for the Colorado Trail and helped every summer to build and maintain the Colorado Trail.  Mimi admitted that she never told any of them her real age, because they wouldn’t let her participate.

Mimi is survived by her two daughters, six grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and three great great grandchildren.  She is also survived by two sisters and a brother.  Mimi’s ashes will be interred with Rags’ at Arlington National Cemetery. No flowers, please.  Contributions may be made in her memory to your favorite charity.