Family and friends mourn the loss of Joyce Morene Ragsdale, born Nov. 28, 1938, in Covina, California, to Doyle Theodore Lackey and Margret Ruth Lackey. She passed away peacefully on Aug. 25, 2019, in Friday Harbor, Washington, surrounded by family in her home.

Joyce lived a blessed, happy life enjoying her family, friends, travel and social events. She married Don Ragsdale in 1956 and shortly thereafter a daughter Susan and son Kevin were born. Once her children were in school, she pursued a career in elementary education. Joyce received a master’s degree from California State University Long Beach, California, and enjoyed many years touching lives as a kindergarten teacher with the Long Beach Unified School District.

Joyce and her family enjoyed many visits to the San Juan Islands in the early 1970s to visit her beloved sister, Marilyn Nasman. Other family members, including her brother John Lackey, and mother Margret Lackey, eventually relocated there as well. In 1998, after Joyce and Don retired, they made Friday Harbor in the San Juan Islands their home. Joyce enjoyed many summers doting on her two grandsons Connor and Ryder and continued to care for them lovingly after her daughter Susan’s passing.

Joyce embraced the San Juan Islands community and made many friends. She loved her home. Hospitality was in her DNA and she welcomed opportunities to host and entertain, whether it be an overnight stay or a meal around the kitchen table. Joyce cherished her sewing, knitting and quilting gals, picking spring flowers from her garden, and making jams, cobblers and other sweet treats from blackberry bushes and other fruits from her yard. She loved her many island social circles, entering her quilts and hydrangeas in the annual summer island fair and attending community events.

At her request, Joyce desired to be laid to rest together with her husband Don of 63 years when his time comes. As social as Joyce was, she was equally as humble and gracious, and did not want an immediate service. Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, friend — forever in our hearts, you live without end.

“In Memory of Joyce Ragsdale—Kenya Women’s Sewing Project” please donate to: Mission ONE, PO Box 5960, Scottsdale, AZ 85261. Or give online at https://mission1.org/donate-1.

To share memories of Joyce, please sign the online guestbook at http://www.evanschapel.com/.