Joan Elizabeth Ragan

Mrs. Joan Elizabeth Thomas Ragan, 81, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2014, at Tucker Hospice House in Kannapolis.

A funeral service is scheduled for 2:00 pm Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church. Rev. Steven Cline, Rev. Steve Beam and Rev. Trent Patterson will officiate. The body will lie in-state 30 minutes prior to the service. Interment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:00 pm Monday at Lady's Funeral Home.

Mrs. Ragan was born December 19, 1932 in Spray, NC. She was a daughter of the late Roy Edgar Thomas and Irma Lee Armstrong Thomas. She was a graduate of A.L. Brown High School (first graduating class) and then attended Kernersville Bible College. She worked at Cannon Mills in #5 Spinning Room as a spinner and later worked in the office as a timekeeper.

Since the age of 4 years old she has been a member of North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church working in many different capacities including: Sunday school teacher, choir member, Church Board member, Happy Hearts Missionary Society and past President, BYF (Best Years Fellowship) and past President, Tipton Circle Missionary Society, taught in the CYC (Christian Youth Crusaders) Program for 40 years and served as Director for 35 years and worked with Vacation Bible Schools and Christmas Programs.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Buddy Ragan; brother, Dewey Thomas; sister-in-law, Faye Dean Thomas; and brother-in-law, Kenneth Amspaugh.

Mrs. Ragan is survived by a daughter, Marsha R. Nance of Charlotte and husband Lee; three sons, Michael Ragan of San Antonio, TX and wife Hilda, Mark Ragan of Kannapolis and wife Penny and Marty Ragan and wife Jan of Mt. Pleasant; three sisters, Faith T. Amspaugh of Vancleve, KY, Hazel T. Leatherman and husband Bud of Toronto, KS and Lylan Beam and husband Larry of Kannapolis; brother-in-law, J.W. Ragan, Jr. and wife Dot of Kannapolis; nine grandchildren, Terri Ragan, Sherri Ragan, Joshua Carter, Cassandra Carter, Melissa Ragan, Bryan Gordon, Melanie Nance, Mallory Ragan and Matthew Ragan; and six great grandchildren, Tyler, Xavier, Ryan, Alana, Peyton and Paige.

Memorials may be sent to North Kannapolis Wesleyan Church, 314 W. 12th Street, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or to Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Our family wishes to express "Special Thanks" to our Mother's lifelong friend and attendant, Mrs. Betty Poteat. Betty, you were always there for us with a smile, pleasant attitude and determined dedication to help our mom. For this, we truly wish to say thanks and please know you will always be a part of our family!