Person:Willis Ragan (2)

This synopsis is being written in an effort to clear up some of the confusion relative to Willis Woodburn Ragan's marital status. He first married Lula Mae Tinsley 18 August 1879. They had seven children: Goldene b. 1898, Charles Willis b. 1900, Naomi b. 1902, Ruby Lorine b. 1904, Agnes Viola b. 1908 and Evelyn b. 1910. Lula Mae became ill and her sister Atha Jackson Tinsley came to live with them to help care for the family. (Atha's middle name "Jackson" was chosen as it was the name of the doctor who delivered her). While Atha was living with them she became pregnant with Raymond Roy b. 1902. According to the Kentucky birth records, a female child was also born to Willis Woodburn Ragan with the mother's name not given, at Graham, Kentucky on 11 April 1905. None of the surviving family know anything concerning this baby. On 29 November 1911 Lula Mae committed suicide by ingesting carbolic acid at Graham, Kentucky. Later in the winter of 1911 Willis Woodburn married Atha Jackson Tinsley and in time had three more children: Anna Lee b. 1913, Selmer Buck b. 1915 and L.D. b. 1922. Willis Woodburn moved to Ohio, with Atha and the children, where he worked some time. He decided to return to Kentucky but Atha chose to remain in Ohio with her children. Willis Woodburn divorced Atha 18 September 1945 at Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. Atha never remarried and remained in Ohio till her death 21 June 1955. Willis Woodburn did remarry to Myrtle Revie Johnson but the date of the marriage is unknown. He died 3 October 1946 so they weren't married for very long. Myrtle died 22 January 1968. Written in 1988 by Lois M. Ragan

1. ↑ letter to Lois Ragan. Evelyn Vincent. (December 5, 1983 and December 17, 1983).

   letter to Lois Ragan

2. ↑ Willis W. Ragan death certificate.