Dora Johnson Ragsdale

On Friday, May 9, Dora Johnson Ragsdale passed away quietly surrounded by her family. Dora, better known to friends as DeDe, was born in Hackett, Arkansas near Fort Smith on February 7, 1924. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1945 with a B.A. in English and married John G. Ragsdale, to whom she was a loving and devoted wife for 68 years. While later receiving an M.A. from the University of Houston, she taught high school English at Bellaire High School and Madison High School in Houston and then later at El Dorado High School in El Dorado, Arkansas. Even at age 90, she would still lightheartedly correct the grammar of medical workers and family members. A strong Christian, DeDe raised four children in a Christian home and belonged to Willow Meadows Baptist Church in Houston in the 1960's and 1970's, to First Baptist Church of El Dorado, Arkansas, and then, later in retirement, to Second Baptist Church and to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, both in Little Rock, Arkansas. In later life, she and husband John traveled the country learning in senior educational programs, serving as Baptist mission volunteers, and assisting with John's outdoor Dutch oven cooking programs. Dora Ragsdale is survived by her husband John G. Ragsdale of Kingwood, Texas; children, Julia Lovorn, Kathryn Valentine and husband Gary, David Ragsdale and wife Judy, and Paul Ragsdale and wife Sharon all of the Houston area; sister, Ruth Gibson of Little Rock; and nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren plus nieces and a nephew. Dora will be remembered as a strong, loving mother, an unyielding but kind English teacher, a caring wife, and a fervent Christian. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, 2013 at Darst Funeral Home. She will be laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery Mausoleum 11 a.m. Friday, May 16, 2014.