Alma L. Ragan
Alma L. Ragan, 84, of Auburn, Calif., passed away on Sunday, April 5, 2015, after a courageous battle with several ailments. She joined her husband: Bert E. Ragan; son: Daniel O. Ragan; daughter: Janet L. Clark-Robertson; and her sister: Eva Engle; who all preceded her in death.
Alma, (also known as Grandma), was born in Des Moines, Iowa on Dec. 6, 1930.
She was the daughter of John and Ethel Groat; sister to Robert and John Groat; beloved mother to: Linda (Jim) LoBue, Auburn, Calif.; and Kathy (Rusty) Styles, Elkhart; cherished grandma to: Joshua; Fernando (Mo); Jason; Joey (Sarah); Bryce; Eleana; and great-grandaughters: Nichole; Ashtin; and Cadence.
After growing up in Warsaw, Alma had various jobs and occupations that crossed the United States several times. She worked as a phone operator, a prison matron in Wash., a houseparent of troubled girls at FCC and at Whitington, and head of housekeeping at Holiday Inn. She retired from being the head of the lost and found department at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, Nev. After retirement she became a loyal and dedicated school volunteer in elementary schools in Elkhart, Henderson, Nev., and Auburn, Calif.
Alma was an incredible, loving, and kind person who took great joy in calling her family and friends religiously on the weekends. She sent birthday and holiday cards without fail, to anyone and everyone for everything. She loved to write books, with her first recently being published. Her author’s name? Simply “Grandma Ragan”. She was passionate about watching sports and “gambling” with her brother for certain games and events. She always had to have a camera close by and has thousands of pictures to prove it.
She made a joyous impression on anyone she met. Her giving spirit, loving nature, the twinkle in her eye, her smile, thirst for adventure, hunger for knowledge, and admiration for God and His creation will not be forgotten.
Alma’s Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Titus Funeral Home in Warsaw. Rev. Tom Craig will officiate.
The family has asked that gifts in memory of Alma be made to the Rock Creek Elementary School library, Auburn, Calif.