Gene Ragan

Farmers lost a devoted friend September 21, 2012, when Gene Ragan, at age 88, left this world. He was called "Mr. Agriculture" by the many, many people who knew him.

Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 23, 2012, at First Baptist Church with Dr. Johnny Fain and Rev. Bob Gross officiating. Interment will follow in the Blakely City Cemetery with Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 2:45 p.m. prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Landmark Park Agricultural Museum.

He was born March 22, 1924, in Early County, Georgia, on a farm to a poor but loving, wonderful family. At age seven, he moved to Albany, GA, where he grew up. Gene began exhibiting his champion cattle when he was only eleven years old. That turned him into a cattleman.

He attended college at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, GA, and graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens.

Gene's death is the end of the era for his family. He was preceded in death by his father, Russell Eugene Ragan, his mother, Leila Hayes Ragan, a son, Harvey Russell Ragan, two sisters, Virginia Ragan West and Dorothy Ragan Meckley, and a brother, Rhodes Ragan. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marilyn M. Ragan, a son, Gene Middleton Ragan, a granddaughter, Kara Bryan Youngblood (Taylor), three great-grandchildren, Grant, Jack, and Belle Anne Youngblood, and several close nieces and nephews. Pallbearers are Taylor Youngblood, Bob Hornsby, Bill Quarles, and nephews Rand Ragan, Dr. Eric Ragan, and Tyrone Ragan.

Honorary pallbearers are the members of his Sunday School Class.