John Ragland, Sr.

I first entered this world on December 31, 1924 in the tiny hamlet of Menlo, Georgia, the only son of William Bryant Ragland and Mildred Vera Tucker. Menlo is near the foothills of Lookout Mountain and, I was privileged to live on this beautiful mountain. I departed this Vale of Tears on September 18, 2015 while living in Paradise, Texas. I believe the postal service calls it Kerrville, Texas known as the Texas Hill Country. This part of the world has made me very happy.

I am leaving behind, at least temporarily, my three sons, John Jr., David, and Mark, and four grandchildren, a wonderful step-daughter, Cheryl Light, and the sweetest sister a man could have, Charlotte Hopton-Jones.

I was brought up by a loving aunt and uncle, who were sharecroppers in north Alabama. As a result of hard work and solid values, they rose from sharecroppers to owners of considerable acreage on Lookout Mountain.

This dear old uncle and aunt taught me their work ethic and by the time I was 8 or 9 years of age I could operate a turning plow with a team of mules. I was also taught to do without. There was no money.

Being brought up in the rural South during the great depression did have certain advantages. For a short period of time I was privileged to attend a one-room, one-teacher school. By the way, we were taught the three R's and some common sense. I was never hungry and the nickel or dime on Saturday afternoons was the highlight of the week. I suppose the old saying is true, "you can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy." And to this day sweet milk and cornbread remains one of my favorite meals.

Skipping a few years, I migrated to Beaumont, Texas and worked in cities from New Orleans to Southern California in the railroad, rice, vegetable oil and port industries. Along the way I served our country during World War II as a member of the U.S. Army 24th Infantry Division and Saw Service in the South Pacific.

It has been a good life, but as everybody can see I have moved on to what I believe to be an everlasting life with our maker. Friends, there will be no funeral or memorial service, and after cremation my ashes will be scattered in the Texas Hill Country.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory at www.kerrvillefuneralhometx.com; Select obituaries, select "sign guestbook" at the top of the individual memorial.

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of the professionals at Kerrville Funeral Home. (830) 895-5111

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