Mary Carolyn Ragan, 71, passed away on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 in Little Rock, Arkansas from complications due to surgery. She was born in Dumas, Arkansas on May 21, 1945 to Ernest Powell Cowen and Mary Lorene Brown Cowen. Mary Carolyn married Billy Ragan in October 1972. She was a retired school teacher and taught school for 40 years from 1966-2006 in Dewitt, Delta, and McGehee School Districts. Mary Carolyn was a Librarian for McGehee Public Library, member of AEA, and a Red Cross Volunteer for Desha County.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Lorene Brown Cowen Findley; father, Ernest Powell Cowen; brother, Ricky Cowen; grandparents, Raymond and Magdalene Brown and Ish and Birdie Barrentine Cowen.
Mary Carolyn is survived by her husband, Billy Ragan of Watson, AR; sons, Mike Ragan (Norma) of Rohwer, AR and Larry Ragan; grandchildren, Leah Murroffo (Bob) of Sterling, IL, Casey Ragan of Sterling, IL, Daniel Ragan (Missy) of Sherwood, AR; grand-dog, Chloe Ragan of Rohwer, AR; great-grandchildren, Ragan Hodge, Layne Hodge, Madison Nolen, Olivia Ragan, Levi Ragan, and Hank Murdock; brothers and sisters, Ray Cowen (Annette) of Dumas, AR, Judy Day (William) of Tillar, AR, Pam Gill (Lawrence) of Bay Minette, AL, Becky Harris-Willis (Chuck) of Dumas, AR, Ann Ledbetter (James) of Maypearl, TX, Scott Findley of Monticello, AR, and Daryl (Pam) Findley of Dumas, AR and a host of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at 5-7 pm Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Griffin-Culpepper Funeral Service in McGehee, AR. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, November 11, 2016 at Watson Assembly of God Church in Watson, AR with Rev. Ben White and Rev. Roger Pierce officiating. Pallbearers will be her nephews, Russ Cowen, Jeremy New, Sammy Gill, Joey Harris, Ray Don Findley, Michael Findley, and Ritchie Cowen. Honorary Pallbearers will be Stephen Findley and Ed Cloinger. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McGehee Branch Library, 211 N. 4th Street, McGehee, AR 71654. Special thanks to the nurses, doctors, and staff of McGehee and Baptist Hospitals for the care that was given to Mary Carolyn.
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