Funeral services for Artie Ragland, age 81, of Bangs, will be at 12:00 PM, Saturday, September 20, 2014 in the Heartland Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial will follow in the Bangs Cemetery under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00.

Mr. Ragland passed from this life on Friday, September 12, 2014 in a local nursing facility.

Artie Ragland was born in Forman, Arkansas on October 4, 1932, the eldest of seven children.  At the age of 12 his father died and he left school to become the head of his family.  Through introduction by his cousin he met his future wife Annie Jamison.  They were married on August 29, 1954.  They moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (2 years), Santa Anna, California (16 years), and Tulsa, Oklahoma (3 years).  The Ragland’s finally settled in Bangs. Artie retired from Kohler after 15 years and built his dream home in the country at the age of 53.  God blessed their union with 3 sons and 2 daughters.

He leaves to cherish his precious memories, his wife of 60 years, Annie Ragland of Bangs;     three sons, Artie D. Ragland and wife Lola of Brownwood, Aaron J. Ragland and wife Ewendolyn of Wharton, Anthony X. Ragland and wife Angela of Ft. Worth; two daughters, Adriance L. Ragland of Dallas and Anitra B. Ragland of Bedford; three sisters, Verdia M. Rowland of Dallas, Bertha M. Edwards and husband James, of Dallas, and Clara M. Louis and husband James, of Texarkana, Arkansas; six grand-children, Cherie and husband Antonio, Ayohance, Shanae, Artis’, Marlwin and Maryorie; eight great-grand-children; Devontre, Terell, Jaylen, Zarriah, twins Isaiah and Elijah, Devaun and James.

Artie was preceded in death by his father and mother, Tillman and Mary Freemen Ragland, four brothers, Leo Ragland, Henry Ragland, Leonard Ragland and Edward Jackson and two children, Otis and Alisha.

Condolences can be offered to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net