Raymon Eugene ”Gene” Ragan, Sr.

Raymon Eugene ”Gene” Ragan, Sr., 90, of Fortson, GA died Monday, January 2, 2023 at Columbus Hospice House.

Funeral Services will be held 2:00 PM Friday, January 6, 2023 in the Chapel of McMullen Funeral Home and Crematory with Bobby Lord officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Thursday, January 5, 2023 at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Piney Grove Cemetery following the service.

Gene was born March 15, 1932 in Lagrange, GA son of the late George Percy Ragan and Lucille Crowell Ragan. Gene graduated from Hamilton High School in 1950. He then left Pine Mountain Valley for Washington D.C. to work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. After working for the F.B.I. he enlisted into the Navy in 1951. He served four years in the Navy on the U.S.S. Maddox during the Korean War. He reached the rank of Petty Officer Second Class. Gene left the Navy in 1955 with an honorable discharge. Gene then started working for Gulf Life Insurance. In 1961 Gene met Joan Ragan and was married that year. They eventually moved to Bainbridge, GA in 1962 and then to Jacksonville FL in 1966. He was then promoted to District Manager of the Jacksonville region. In 1968 after Gulf Life was purchased, Gene, Joan and their two children moved back to Columbus GA. He worked for Horace Mann Insurance for one year. In 1969 Gene and Joan opened Ragan Insurance Agency, Inc in Columbus,GA. They later opened a second location in Hamilton, Ga and eventually moved that location to LaGrange, GA. He later became one of the first insurance agents in Georgia to obtain his Certified Insurance Counselor designation in 1976. Gene was very active in the local community with Kiwanis, church and youth sports. He also served on state board of directors for the Professional Insurance Agents of Georgia. In 1980 he would become the President of P.I.A. of Georgia. Gene loved the insurance industry because it allowed him to meet new people and help them protect their personal possessions and business. He always said let our Family protect your Family. Gene devoted the rest of his life to Ragan Insurance(which will celebrate 54 years in 2023) and is still family owned. It is run by his son Shane Ragan and grandson Ragan Blankenship. He also had a love of rental property. Rental property was a late in life hobby. Gene loved working with his hands. This gave him the opportunity to stay physical while giving others a quality place to live. In life Gene never stopped moving or thinking. He lived his life passionately!

Other than his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Mary George Ragan; granddaughter, Lacy Ables; father-in-law, Jack Hearn; and mother-in-law, Mary Alice Hearn Poole.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Hearn Ragan of Fortson, GA; children, Lesa Ragan Blankenship (Forrest) of Pine Mountain, GA, R.E. Shane Ragan II (Melinda) of Columbus, GA, Belinda Cox (Henry) of Pine Mountain Valley, GA, Dr. Carlos Wille of Jounville, Santa Catarina, Brazil; grandchildren, Chaise Blankenship (April) of Fortson, GA, Ragan Blankenship (Taylor) of Hamilton, GA, Ali Walker (Kyra) of Marietta, GA, Chris Morris (Zina) of Phenix City, AL, Stephanie King (Shelby) of Smiths Station, AL, Sara Ann Russell (Chris) of Phenix City, AL; great grandchildren, Hunter Blankenship, Willow Blankenship, Kail Tyson, Korbin Ouelette, Wyatt Russell, Ayden King, Carleigh King; sisters, Peggy Harrelson (Bobby)  of Pine Mountain Valley, GA, Vicki Ragan of Valley, AL; Numerous nieces, nephews, other family; and his beloved dog, Simon.

Flowers will be accepted, those so desiring may make contributions to the House of Heroes Chattahoochee Valley Chapter, 1225 Webster Ave Suite B Columbus, GA 31901.