Lawrence "L.J." Ragsdale 80, Beloved Husband, Dad, PaPa, Son & Friend went to be with his Lord & Savior on February 2, 2022 following a 6-month physical battle after having a stroke. He has always been so strong and he fought hard til his last breath.

L.J. was born October 11, 1941 to Mary & Lawrence Ragsdale, Sr. After graduating from Webster High School, L.J. faithfully served his country in the United States Navy for a tour during the Cuban missile crises and Vietnam. He retired from Oklahoma Natural Gas Company after 38 years of employment.

God certainly is in the divine appointment business. When L.J. was a child and first saw Shirley (the love of his life) while visiting her church, he told his mom, "I'm going to marry her someday". They occasionally saw each other over the years at different church events but never really spent any time together until High School when Shirley became friends with L.J.'s cousin, Peggy. Although they went on a few double dates, Shirley ended up moving to Oregon to help out a friend and see what God had in store for her life. After praying for God to send her a helpmate, she received a telegram & Western Union funds from L.J. for her to come home, and that's when their life together began. They would have celebrated 57 years of marriage on February 13th. They had a love like no other! They always held hands, always supported each other in their interests, served God and their church together and was the rock that was the foundation of their loving family.

L.J. was a member of Praise Center Ministries where over the years he faithfully served as an usher, a choir member, and he devoted countless hours building stage sets, Christmas floats, setting up the sanctuary for services, programs, weddings, car shows, you name it. If anything needed done, L.J. was the first to volunteer and the hardest working man you'd ever meet.

L.J. enjoyed in his spare time, fishing, hunting and spending time with his family & friends. He had a caring and compassionate heart and was always willing to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

He was loved and will be greatly missed by all his family and friends, but we are comforted in knowing that he is walking those streets of gold with his Savior, his Dad and his grandson, his brother & sister-in-law, his sister and other family and friends who went before him.

He is survived by his loving wife Shirley Ragsdale; Son, Brent Ragsdale and spouse Donna Ragsdale, and Daughter, Karen Donnell; Grandchildren Lilyan "Britanny" Wolfe, Emilee McGibbon & spouse John McGibbon; Cody Donnell, and MaKenzie Ragsdale; Great grandson Aiden McGibbon; his Mother, Mary Webb; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Services will be held Saturday, February 12, 2022 at 2:00p.m. at Praise Center Ministries, Sapulpa, Oklahoma.

Family visitation will be Friday, February 11, 2022, from 6:00-8:00p.m., at Traditions Funeral and Cremation Services, 35 S. Main, Kellyville, Oklahoma.