Jean Ragland

1931 - 2012

January 9, 1931 - November 23, 2012

Jean Ragland of Cottonwood, CA passed away on Friday, November 23, 2012. Mother of Ben Ragland, Laura (Ragland) Daniel and her husband Gary, Jon Ragland and his wife Susan. Grandmother to Brittany Ragland, Stephanie Ragland, Tanner and Terra Gibson. Stepmother to Greg Ragland and Teri (Ragland) Barnes and half sister to Judy Dudley.

Mrs. Jean Ragland was born January 9th, 1931 to Delos Dudley and Virginia Burdick in Madison Wisconsin. She spent many fond summers at Lake St. Croix in Solon Springs, Wisconsin both as a child and returning annually with family and friends. After completing under graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin, Jean moved to southern California in the early 1950s to complete post graduate studies at UCLA and began her teaching career in Fillmore and Santa Paula. She married Benjamin Carl Ragland in Ventura, CA in 1956 and raised her children in Ventura and Ojai. She moved to Redding in 1982 earning a masters degree in special education at Chico State and retired from teaching in the Central Valley school system.

Jean was an avid horse rider and enjoyed snow and water skiing. She was one of the first women to water-ski in the Pacific Ocean in the early 1950s and she loved snow skiing at Mammoth Mountain. Horses were a major part of her life from 1970 up until her last rides at the ripe young age of 80. Her proudest accomplishment was successfully completing the Tevis, a 100-mile endurance horse ride in 24 hours.

Her family wishes to extend their heartfelt appreciation to Bonhurst Assisted Living and Mercy Hospice for their loving care of Mrs. Ragland.

A celebration of life memorial will be held on November 30th 2012 at 3 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, located at 1830 Hilltop Drive, Redding. In lieu of flowersplease consider a donation to the charity of your choice, such as Triple Creek Therapeutic Riding (TCRI.org), or the SPCA.