Ann Ragan

Anna Christian Paulson Ragan, 89, of Midland, TX, passed away on February 13, 2024, in Midland TX.

Visitation will be from 2:00-5:00 on Sunday, February 18, 2024, at Sunset Memorial Funeral Home

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, February 19, 2024, at the Sunset Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Robert Pase of Grace Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow at the Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by Sunset Memorial Gardens and Funeral Home.

Anna Paulson Ragan was born in Pecos TX to Gunnard and Anna Paulson on September 11, 1934. She married Teddy Joe Ragan on January 12, 1957, at the First Presbyterian Church in Monahans, TX. In the early days, Anna worked as a telephone switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell, but most of her life was spent being a housewife and Mother. Anna was a member of the First Baptist Church of Midland and volunteered at the Library for the Blind of West Texas, Helping Hands of Midland, the Women’s Crisis Center and the Midland County Republican Women. She was especially proud of meeting Ronald Reagan and her work on his campaign but most of all, she was so proud of her family.

    Anna loved gardening, sewing, baking and most of the family still have her homemade aprons and Christmas tree skirts. She really loved animals, especially cats and birds. She had hummingbirds that would return every year and usually had a beautiful cat that adored her. 

When her kids were old enough to have jobs, it was normal for her to show up at their workplace with a big pan of lasagna or a big batch of cookies to feed everyone because mothering was her thing. She used those sugar cookies strategically as most of you remember. As sweet as she was, she never hesitated in making her kids select a switch from the tree should it become necessary to instill some sort of life lesson. Some of those life lessens were a strong sense of independence, responsibility, and ethics. Work to her was a virtue, and laziness wasn’t tolerated. If need be, she was strong enough to play the role of Father if Father was working away from home. She had her priorities straight; she was a Christian, Wife and Mother, in that order, and one of those rare people that leave the world without an enemy. 

Anna is preceded in death by her husband, Teddy Joe Ragan; siblings, John Paulson, Faye Boone, and Karin Raper; parents, Gunnard and Anna Paulson. 

Anna is survived by son, John Ragan (Norma), and daughter, Joanna Ragan Lowder (Daryl); granddaughters, Lauren Ragan Tidwell (Matt) and Andrea Ragan; great-grandchildren, Bentley Tidwell, Evie Tidwell, Theodore Tidwell, and Anna Tidwell and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers will be John Ragan, Daryl Lowder, Mike Norwood, and Mark Miller.

The family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Pastor Robert Pace for being Mom’s Pastor during her time in Assisted Living, outstanding nurses at Midland Memorial Hospital, namely Angela Fields, and friends and family for the outpouring of support.